International Games Day 2016 focuses on bringing in big fun on a small budget

International Games Day (IGD) is back to celebrate games in libraries on November 19th, 2016. This annual tradition is an initiative run by volunteers from around the world and hosted by the American Library Association’s Games and Gaming Round Table (GameRT), in collaboration with Nordic Game Day, the Australian Library and Information Association, and L’Associazione Italiana Biblioteche.

Games, both video and tabletop, are in a golden age of innovation and creativity. Librarians are harnessing this collaborative power and using it to engage patrons in critical thinking and immersive play.

Why play games in libraries? Brian Mayer, the current GameRT president, says, “Participating in International Games Day helps bridge continents and cultures through play. It highlights the amazing way that games build community and provide a way for people to come together in a shared, equal space to explore, learn, grow and have fun. For almost 10 years, IGD has been working to achieve those goals, growing from a localized initiative in the United States to one that spans the globe. Take part in this amazing opportunity to bring people together in your library space, while making them a part of something truly global!”

This year’s event blog at igd.ala.org is focusing on the ways that libraries can play with little to no materials budget. Librarians interested in ways to bring games into their libraries can subscribe to the blog to receive information on ways to play, game reviews, and updates on donations from our sponsors.

Each year our donors add to our success with their generous donations. This year our donors are Asterion Games, Cheap Ass Games, Glass Plate Game, Good Games, Paizo, PrimaGames, Red Glove Games, and Steve Jackson Games. These donations are invaluable to libraries beginning and expanding their game collections.

To find out your closest library participating in IGD, check the map on our blog. If your local library isn't a participant, we have suggestions for ways game lovers can get involved or start your local participation.

American Library Association

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 57,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information. For more information on the American Library Association please visit ala.org.

Games and Gaming Round Table

The Games and Gaming Round Table (GameRT) of the American Library Association provides a venue for librarians interested in the use of games and gaming in libraries of all types a place to gather and share. GameRT was formed in 2011, replacing and extending the pre-existing gaming member interest group. As a round table, GameRT is built around our shared passion for games and the use of gaming within libraries. With members from all types of libraries, GameRT encompasses a wide variety of viewpoints, situations, and user types.

Australian Library and Information Association

The Australian Library and Information Association is the national professional organisation for the Australian library and information services sector. Together we seek to empower the profession through the development, promotion, and delivery of quality library and information services to the nation, through leadership, advocacy and mutual professional support. For more information on the Australian Library and Information Association please visit alia.org.au

L’Associazione Italiana Biblioteche

The Associazione Italiana Biblioteche is the professional association of Italian librarians. Founded in 1930, AIB is the only general library association in Italy, the only National Association Member of IFLA, and by far the oldest and largest association from this field in Italy.

Nordic Game Day

The goal is to have the public libraries all over the Nordic region put extra focus on games as a medium – both physical board games and the digital kind – for one day or for the whole week leading up to the Nordic Game Day. This is to show the patrons and the world, that games are an established medium that belongs in the libraries now and in the future. For more information about Nordic Game Day please visit nordicgameday.wordpress.com.

Related Links

International Games Day