How to Start a Gaming Club in Your Local Library
Libraries are no longer just quiet places for reading—they are hubs of community engagement, creativity, and education. One of the most exciting ways to leverage your local library is by starting a tabletop roleplaying game (RPG) or board game club. Whether you’re an educator looking to foster teamwork and critical thinking or a game enthusiast wanting to connect with others, your library is a fantastic venue to build a gaming community. This blog post provides a comprehensive guide for starting a gaming club at your local library, offering practical steps and strategies to ensure its success.
Why Start a Gaming Club in a Library?
Libraries are ideal places for gaming clubs for several reasons:
Accessible Venue: Libraries are centrally located and accessible to a wide range of community members.
Free Resources: Many libraries provide free access to meeting rooms, tables, chairs, and sometimes even game materials like books or dice.
Community Engagement: Libraries already serve as community hubs, so they are natural gathering places for groups of all ages and interests.
Educational Focus: Gaming aligns with the educational mission of libraries by promoting critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Gaming Club in Your Library
Getting your gaming club off the ground requires some planning and collaboration with library staff. Here are the key steps to follow:
1. Define the Purpose and Scope of Your Club
Before you reach out to library staff, have a clear idea of what your gaming club will focus on:
Type of Games: Decide whether your club will center on tabletop RPGs, board games, card games, or a combination of these. Consider the audience and educational value.
Target Audience: Determine who your club will serve. Will it be open to all ages, or will it focus on specific groups like teens, adults, or families?
Frequency of Meetings: Decide how often your club will meet and how long each session will be. Will it be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly?
2. Meet with Library Staff
Once you’ve defined the scope of your club, the next step is to meet with the library staff to discuss your ideas. They are likely to be supportive, but you’ll need to ensure that your club aligns with the library’s policies and mission.
Present Your Proposal: Outline the goals of your gaming club, the types of games you’ll include, and how the club will benefit the library and community. Be sure to emphasize the educational aspects of gaming.
Discuss Space and Scheduling: Ask about the availability of meeting rooms or designated spaces. Ensure there’s enough room to accommodate the number of players and the types of games you plan to run. Also, establish a regular schedule for your club.
Library Resources: Inquire if the library has resources that can support your club, such as books on gaming, dice, or game sets. Some libraries may also have projectors, whiteboards, or other tools that can enhance your gaming sessions.
3. Promote Your Gaming Club
Once you’ve secured approval from the library, it’s time to promote your club. Successful promotion ensures that you’ll attract enough members to sustain your gaming group.
Flyers and Posters: Create flyers and posters with key information about your club: meeting times, location, target audience, and the types of games you’ll feature. Post these materials in the library and other community spaces, such as schools or community centers.
Library Newsletter and Website: Ask the library to include your club in its monthly newsletter or website events page. This is an excellent way to reach regular library patrons.
Social Media: Utilize social media platforms to promote your gaming club. Create event pages on Facebook or post updates about your meetings on Instagram, Twitter, or Reddit.
Word of Mouth: Encourage existing library patrons and early members to invite their friends or family members to join. Word of mouth can be a powerful tool for growing your club.
4. Structure Your Meetings
Once members begin to join, it’s essential to have a structured meeting format. This ensures that the sessions are organized, fun, and educational.
Welcome and Introduction: Start each meeting by welcoming members and discussing the agenda. For new members, provide a brief introduction to the club and the types of games you play.
Game Setup: Set up the games and explain the rules, especially for new players. Depending on the games, you may want to have designated game masters or facilitators who are familiar with the rules.
Gameplay: The bulk of each meeting should be devoted to playing the games. Ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Debrief and Wrap-Up: After each session, spend a few minutes reflecting on the game. Encourage members to share what they enjoyed, what they learned, and what they’d like to play next.
Example Table of Meeting Structure
Meeting Component
Description
Time Allotment
Welcome and Introduction
Greet members, introduce new players, and discuss the meeting agenda.
10-15 minutes
Game Setup
Set up the game(s) and explain rules to participants.
10-20 minutes
Gameplay
Play the games with active participation from all members.
1-2 hours
Debrief and Wrap-Up
Reflect on the game, share feedback, and plan for the next session.
10-15 minutes
5. Foster a Welcoming and Inclusive Environment
To ensure the longevity of your gaming club, it’s essential to foster a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for all participants.
Inclusivity: Ensure that the club is open to everyone, regardless of skill level, background, or age. Make it clear that all players are welcome, whether they are new to gaming or experienced.
Code of Conduct: Establish a simple code of conduct to promote respectful behavior. This helps maintain a positive atmosphere and prevents issues related to competitive behavior or disagreements during games.
Encourage Participation: Provide opportunities for all members to participate, whether it’s by playing games, leading a session, or offering feedback. Engaged members are more likely to return and invite others.
Celebrate Achievements: Recognize members’ achievements, whether it’s mastering a new game, leading a successful session, or contributing positively to the group. Celebrating milestones helps build a sense of community.
6. Evaluate and Grow Your Club
As your gaming club progresses, it’s essential to evaluate its success and look for opportunities to grow and improve.
Member Feedback: Regularly ask members for feedback on what they enjoy and what could be improved. This can help you adjust your game selection, meeting structure, or other aspects of the club to better meet the needs and preferences of your members.
Track Attendance: Keep track of attendance to understand which games or meeting formats are most popular. This data can help you determine which events to repeat and how to structure future sessions.
Expand Your Game Library: As your club grows, consider expanding the range of games you offer. You might request donations of games from members or partner with local game stores for discounts or loans of new titles.
Collaborate with Other Clubs: Partnering with other library clubs, such as a book club or coding group, can create crossover events that introduce new members to gaming. For example, you could run an RPG session based on a book that the book club has read.
Host Special Events: Organize special events, such as game tournaments, themed gaming nights, or library-wide game days, to attract new members and engage current participants in fresh ways.
Conclusion
Starting a gaming club in your local library is a rewarding and impactful way to bring people together, foster critical thinking, and provide a fun, educational outlet for students and community members alike. By carefully defining the purpose of your club, working with library staff, promoting your meetings, and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment, you can build a thriving community of gamers who enjoy learning and collaborating through play.
With proper planning and regular evaluation, your gaming club can grow into a valuable part of your library’s programming, helping to engage patrons and fulfill the library’s mission of supporting lifelong learning, creativity, and community engagement. Whether focused on tabletop RPGs, board games, or card games, your club has the potential to provide hours of enjoyment while building essential skills in a fun, interactive setting.
