SBU Libraries Honor International Games Day

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Darren Chase

To further prove that we are more than just books, the Library has been diligently assembling a series of fun yet educational events and activities that highlight more than just our collection of over two million titles. Earlier this year, the Library hosted a symposium called Marvels and Monsters that explored Asian images in comics and graphic narratives. We initiated our Spy Hunt scavenger hunt, and continued with our annual hunt that leads participants through the branches exploring our holdings and services by solving a set of clues, riddles, and puzzles. Most recently, staff have created a series of library-themed board games to bring classics such as Clue and Trivial Pursuit to our users in a uniquely personalized way.

Marvels and Monsters – library staff explore stereotypes in a creative way

To promote these games and show them in action, we are joining in the global celebration of ALA’s International Games Day, where patrons from every corner of this great earth of ours can assemble in the Library to share games unique to their culture. Games have long held an important place in libraries. The library is a place where people from all cultures can come together and share ideas, cultivate creativity, and inspire one another with demonstrations of strategic thought and inventiveness.

Where’s Wolfie? The Library version of Clue

For our part on this day, we will open our Game Lab in the Melville Library’s Central Reading Room to all students. Consoles in the Lab include Colecovision, Atari, Sega Genesis, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo64, and xbox, along with a vast collection of games for each system. We will set up the board games that our staff have created for you and your friends to check out and play if you so wish. Other more popular games such as Chess, Monopoly, Sorry, and more will also be available for checkout on this day, courtesy of Library staff. Have a game that is unique to your country or heritage? Bring it in to give others a glimpse into game play in other parts of the world.

Joining us for this event will be two time U.S. champion Speed Cuber Rowe Hessler, joined by fellow Speed Cuber Bobby D’Angelo. They will demonstrate their skills and teach onlookers how to master the Rubik’s Cube (without peeling off the stickers and relocating them).

He can solve the Rubik’s Cube in less time than it took me to type this caption

The event will take place on Wednesday, November 12th, from 11am-2pm. Informational handouts detailing the day’s schedule of events can be found at the Information Desk in the Library’s Central Reading Room. We hope to see you there!