Pokémon Clubs at Your Library

Pokémon Club is a structured program within the Play! Pokémon ecosystem where club members can learn, play, and connect through the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and other activities designed for their age range. Pokémon Clubs aim to be inclusive and welcoming to all young players, regardless of their skill level or familiarity with Pokémon. Pokémon Club is not intended to be competitive. It will be a space exclusively for casual play and learning.

The Pokémon Club Program is currently being run as the result of a partnership between the American Library Association (ALA) and The Pokémon Company International. The main requirement for enrollment is for the librarian applying to the program to have a current membership in ALA and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and/or the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). Participating libraries must also commit to hosting a Pokémon Club a minimum of once per month and submitting the required regular reporting to maintain their eligibility. 

You don’t need to be an expert on Pokémon! As a school or children’s librarian, you already know that games in the library are an essential component of your collection. Once approved as a Pokémon Club Coordinator, you will have access to digital resources designed to help you run your Pokémon Club and ensure it responds to the interests of your community. The Pokémon Club Resource Toolbox includes training documents, activities, and additional resources designed to help you to create your Pokémon Club schedules and events. It includes play session examples that can be useful references for getting started.

Information presented in new formats that encourage critical thinking and problem solving, as well as games that encourage social interaction among peers are just a couple of the reasons to consider starting your own Pokémon Club. 

You receive all the benefits of ALA and ALSC/AASL membership when you sign up as a member! You will also receive additional benefits as a Pokémon Club Coordinator. We are thrilled to provide Pokémon Clubs with the resources they need, with no additional cost, to engage young players. Each Club Kit contains several hundred dollars worth of products and resources to help get your Club up and running at no cost to the Club Coordinator. Pokémon Clubs will also receive ongoing readiness materials and access to an exclusive community space on ALA Connect for Club Coordinators.

Learn more about membership in AASL.

Learn more about membership in ALSC.

Please reach out to pokemon@ala.org to inquire about financial assistance options that you may be eligible for.

The current Pokémon Club program is designed with children ages 5–14 in mind, but we do not have a designated age for the program as a whole.  As time goes on, we will continue to develop additional materials and partnerships for the Pokémon Club program, including options intended for older groups. 

Yes, if you are eligible and commit to the requirements for this program, you can participate. All participants must have an active membership in ALA and ALSC and/or AASL, commit to hosting a Pokémon Club a minimum of once per month, and submit the required regular reporting. 

The current program is for school libraries and public libraries in the United States, Canada, or US military schools with ALA membership.

Pokémon Clubs are designed to run once a week for one hour. Of course, every library has different schedule options, so we just ask that your club meets consistently at least once per month.

Club Coordinators will be asked to submit a brief tracking report after every club session and a survey from their club each quarter. 

Your application will be reviewed by ALA staff. Once approved, you will receive a Pokémon Club Kit with learn-to-play activities, decorations, prize support, and more, as well as digital resources including instructions, definitions, and additional activity materials to help you run your Club.

Only a librarian who is a member of the ALA and the AASL or ASLC can be a Club Coordinator and the person responsible for the Pokémon Club. However, we understand that they may not be available to run events or may need additional assistance, so volunteers may assist. Any volunteers who assist with your Pokémon Club are the responsibility of your Pokémon Club, and the venue will be responsible for any background checks or verifications needed. 

If you meet all requirements to host a Pokémon Club at your library, start by filling out an application that you can find on the ALA’s webpage for the Pokémon Club Program: https://ala.org/pokemon. Upon acceptance into the program, you will receive notification of your acceptance and access to Pokémon Club materials and resources. 

That depends on the specific policies and practices of your school regarding after-school programs. Regardless, the AASL can provide a draft letter template for you to obtain the authorization of school administrators to implement your Pokémon Club. 

The structured and research-informed Pokémon Club program helps students build essential cognitive, academic, and social-emotional skills. Through activities like deck-building, puzzle-solving, and collaborative gameplay, students practice:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Math and reading comprehension
• Communication, teamwork, and empathy

Pokémon Clubs can be especially effective at engaging students who may not participate in traditional extracurricular activities, offering them a safe and welcoming space to connect with peers and explore their interests. They also support many schools’ efforts to reduce screen time and promote face-to-face student interaction. 

A Pokémon Club should meet consistently, preferably running on a weekly or biweekly schedule, for at least one hour, but no less than once a month.