The Games & Gaming Round Table (GameRT) of the American Library Association is pleased to announce TWO recipients of the 2025 Game On! Grant!
GameRT introduced the Game On! grant program in 2020 with the intention of providing libraries with the opportunity to receive funds to develop gaming programs or collections for their community. The grant program allows GameRT to annually award one grant of $2000 or two separate grants of $1000. GameRT funds $1000 of the grant award, which is currently being matched by Cards Against Humanity (CAH), who have provided a donation to fund an additional $1000 annually toward the Game On! Grant for 5 consecutive years. Award years 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 will include this amount. Please read more about why CAH supports libraries in this blog interview.
Johnsburg Public Library District (IL) will use grant funds ($1000) to create an afterschool video gaming club and circulating video game collection. Without a park district or recreation center, JPLD provides library services to a large afterschool community. They hope to provide access to a high-interest/high-cost activity that many families in their community cannot afford, as“27% of our students are enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).” The creation of the club and collection will fulfill the myriad of requests they receive from library patrons for video games, and it will establish a collection that their Friends of the Library can fundraise for, as well as provide resources for on-going library programs.
University of Southern Mississippi Libraries – Cook Library (MS) will also receive $1000 in grant funds to build an international gaming collection that will also support multicultural programming across campus. International students make up 7% of USM’s enrollment in Hattiesburg, MS. The library will collaborate with USM’s Pakistani Student Organization, Latinx Student Association, The Nations, and International Student and Scholar Services on interdepartmental programs to support their international students and promote awareness of international games across campus. They have wide student interest in multicultural games, but have lacked the budget to build a more substantial collection.
Rebecca Strang, GameRT Mage Emeritus and Chair of the Game On! Grant Committee said, “The Game On! Grant committee is thrilled to have additional grant funds this year, thanks to a donation from Cards Against Humanity. Their support enables us to help make gaming happen in even more libraries! The hardest thing about being on the grant committee is having to narrow the applicants down to one or two recipients because there are so many great ideas out there and just as many deserving libraries. This year’s recipients had a very strong focus on their community and highlighted a specific demographic that really needs more support, yet are building programs that will end up supporting their communities at large.”
Visit the GameRT website for more information on the Game on! Grant and the application process.