The Games and Gaming Round Table of the American Library Association is proud to sponsor its annual grant program to enable libraries to develop gaming programs or collections for their public. Through the Game On! grant, $500.00 will be available to be awarded to assist a library (or libraries) in developing gaming programs or collections for their communities. This year’s winner was the Butler Area Public Library in Butler, PA submitted by Anita Bowser. Official ALA press release here.
Anita shared this about their project:
We’re so grateful for this opportunity to offer Spanish language games to our community. This fall, we’ll host family game nights with a bilingual focus to promote our new collection and bring English- and Spanish-speaking families together in the library.
The game nights and Spanish-Language Games collection are part of a broader initiative to better serve Butler’s Latinx community. Other programs include Hispanic and Latin American cultural events, Spanish language storytimes, and a community-wide book event based on an Isabel Allende novel.
BAPL’s abbreviated grant proposal:
Butler Area Public Library currently circulates a variety of tabletop games for English speaking patrons, leaving no options for Spanish speaking members of the community. The library hosts 4 weekend tabletop game events each year for adults and teens, leaving no game events for families with young children.
At this time, the library has a need for games that are suitable for Spanish speaking families with children of all ages. We would use the Game On! grant to purchase games for Spanish speakers and to host 3 family game events in the fall of 2023. Once the grant commitment has been fulfilled, the games will be part of the library’s circulating collection and the library will continue to host family game events several times annually.
A series of family game events, promoted to English- and Spanish-speaking families, will increase community unity and cultural understanding and will attract Latinx visitors to sample library services.
Events will include 5 games that will appeal primarily to players with proficient Spanish language skills, and 7 games that will promote integration of Spanish & English speaking players. .
The family game events will attract Latinx community members to the library where they will benefit from all library services and resources. These ongoing events will benefit the broader community by fostering unity and cultural understanding.
Selected games:
- Loteria Mexicana (Mexican Lottery)
- Spanish Bananagrams
- Don Cemente Perpientes Y Escaleras (Snakes & Ladders)
- Get Loud – The Bilingual Guessing Word Game that Celebrates Latino Culture
- Pictureka! Picture Hunt Game in Spanish
- Menique, Flags of The Americas, Memory Matching Game
- Menique, Animales Salvajes (Wild Animal Matching)
- Scrabble Edicion en Espanol
- Homwom Double Mexican Train Game Set
- Adivina Quien? (Guess Who)
- Mexico-opoly (Spanish Monopoly)
- Coco Remember Me Loteria