GLOSSARY · Hobby & Community
Library Game Program
A public library's program lending or hosting games for patrons, often as part of kids' or family programming.
Detailed definition
A library game program is what a lot of public libraries now run alongside their book collection — either a small circulating library of games patrons can check out, or scheduled in-branch sessions where staff or volunteers run games for kids, teens, or families. It’s grown out of the same instinct behind a family game library: games are worth curating and sharing, not just books.
Programs like this need titles that survive a lot of handling and teach fast, since a librarian running a drop-in session usually has one shot to explain the rules to a room of strangers of mixed ages. If your branch is putting together this kind of programming, our community partnerships page is where we work through picks that hold up to that pace, rather than titles better suited to one careful family at home.
Building out programming for your branch?
Putting together game-based programming for your library branch? Tell us the age range and how often you're running it, and we'll help you find titles that hold up to repeat circulation.