Nation’s libraries celebrate National Gaming Day @ your library
Contact: Macey Morales
Manager, ALA Media Relations
(312) 280-4393
NEWS
For Immediate Release
November 25, 2008
CHICAGO- The growing interest in gaming has generated impressive activity at the nation’s libraries.
Recently, more than 14,000 people of all ages came together in their local communities to participate in gaming events at more than 600 libraries around the country on National Gaming Day @ your library, Nov. 15, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA).
“With the introduction of more social video games and board games, libraries continue to create and promote modern educational opportunities for their users and serve as community centers for the whole family,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “National Gaming Day is just one of the many examples of how people of all ages can read, learn and play at your library.
An estimated 5,500 library gamers joined the ALA in an attempt to establish a record for the most number of people playing the board game “Pictureka!,” a frenzied version of finder’s keeper’s. Through a generous donation from Hasbro, public libraries across the country received a free copy of “Pictureka!” totaling more than 16,000 copies mailed.
Roleplaying games also were very popular during National Gaming Day. Registered libraries reported that more than 1,100 library gamers played
Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game and
Magic: The Gathering® Trading Card Game. Both games were donated by Wizards of the Coast, and libraries that registered their gaming activities online through ALA received a free copy of each one.
ALA President Jim Rettig celebrated National Gaming Day at Cuffee Public Library, Chesapeake, Va. Rettig could be found playing Rock Band with a variety of young gamers. “While celebrating the day with Cuffee Public Library,” stated Rettig, “It was clear that libraries have the power to bring communities together, and provide a unique social experience that can’t be found elsewhere.” More than 100 users enjoyed the day of free activities which fueled collaborations between teens and young children.
“The success of this year’s National Gaming Day @ your library would not have been possible without the support of ALA members and the generous donations from such sponsors as Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast and Top Trumps.”
Library gamers participated in a variety of national video game tournaments. An estimated 28 libraries in 18 states competed with one another in more than 50 nationwide events using the GT System software, and more than 270 gamers were able to track their ranking through a national leaderboard. The Evansville Vanderburgh (Ind.) Public Library beat the Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library in the
Super Smash Brothers Brawl finals to take bragging rights until next year’s competition. The Flagstaff (Arz.) Public Library came in second place, the East Flagstaff (Arz.) Branch took third place, and fourth place honors went to the Jerome (Idaho) Public Library.
The winner of the national Rock Band high-score contest was the band "Odiferous," which recorded a score of 1,298,729 at the Newman (Ill.) Regional Library, edging out their local rivals "Chinese Democracy" to win both their town tournament and take the top spot on the GT System Rock Band leaderboard. The tournament was made possible by a GT System software donation from the Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library.
National Gaming Day @ your library is a national initiative supported by the American Library Association, and 2008 sponsors Hasbro, Top Trumps and Wizards of the Coast. Dr. Scott Nicholson from the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University will work with the ALA to evaluate data from National Gaming Day 2008. For current data on participation and video game tournament results, please visit
www.ala.org/ngd08.
National Gaming Day @ your library 2009 will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.
About the ALA
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 67,000 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
www.ala.org.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at
http://www.hasbro.com. (C) 2008 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved
About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast, Inc. is the pacesetter in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, and the leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products. Wizards of the Coast is considered the global leader in hobby gaming, developing and publishing game based and other entertainment products celebrated the world over.