The library isn't just for books (6/18/08)

By: Joshua Jefferson

Posted: 6/18/08

Library's first game night is big success.

Malpass Library held its first game night June 17 as a way to reach out to the community and give students a chance to take a break from studying and meet new people. Kids, parents and library staff, young and old, all came out to play board games (Boggle and Apples to Apples), multimedia games such as Scene It and current-generation gaming systems like the Wii and Xbox 360.

"It would be a great place for people who are looking for something to do this summer that might be getting bored," said Becky Cantlan.

"It's a good thing to have gaming in the library because it brings people to the building," said Dr. Jeffrey Darensbourg, Marketing and Outreach Librarian at Malpass.

"It is something intellectual that we can do here. We are a high-tech environment; it showcases some of the technology that we have," Darensbourg said. "Also, participation in games like board games and video games has shown to increase attention and help people to think logically and is just apart of general learning."

As anticipated, the Nintendo Wii seemed to get the most traffic. Event-goers tried their hand at a number of multiplayer Wii games, including "Mario Kart Wii" and "Wii Sports," a flexible title that includes games such as tennis and bowling.

PC gamers made their way into the computer lab for LAN battle in the World War II-themed game "Call of Duty." Meanwhile, those who were less inclined to play video games had the opportunity to play any number of board game favorites. Dean Phyllis Self got a game of Apples to Apples going encouraging people to join in on the mix and match fun of the word game.

"This is an awesome idea," said Kevin Finizio. "Genius, genius."

As he prepared to take on another event-goer in a game of chess. The openness of the event created a great atmosphere. Older participants were willing to be taught by the younger participants in the way of video games, while the youths were in turn ready to learn from the older generation about board games.

If you missed out on the event this time around there is no need to fear. The possibility of another such event happening this summer and even at some point in the school year is quite likely. There is no better way to fight boredom than with new friends and a good game.