GAMERT (Gaming) Round Table

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The mission of the Games and Gaming Round Table is to provide the following:
  • A forum for the exchange of ideas and concerns surrounding games in libraries;
  • Resources to the library community to support the building and maintaining of library game collections;
  • A force for initiating and supporting game programming in libraries;
  • Create an awareness of, and need for, the support of the value of gaming and play in libraries, schools, and related learning communities.
  • Create an awareness of the value of games and gaming in library outreach and community engagement plans.
  • A professional and social forum for networking among librarians and non-librarians interested in games and gaming.

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Follow-Up on ALA Play: ALA's Response

  • 1.  Follow-Up on ALA Play: ALA's Response

    Posted 3 hours ago
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    Hello, GameRT,

    First of all, thank you so much to everyone who showed up at last week's board meeting; it was very meaningful to see so many folks show up in support of this group and the awesome work we do. I appreciate your support!

    Last night, Chris, Danielle, and I received the attached response to the board's request for a written commitment to hold ALA Play on Friday for ALA Annual 2027. 

    In my view, this does not meet the requirements the board voted on to move forward with planning Play 2026 for Saturday, but I look forward to everyone's thoughts. 

    My initial reaction is to send a response along the lines of "Being unsure of the initial communication you received, I want to clarify that the board of the Games and Gaming Round Table voted to not move forward with planning to host ALA Play on Saturday for the 2026 conference unless written commitment was given that ALA Play will be held on Friday for the 2027 conference. While we  understand that of course Conference Services cannot set a precedent of making assurances of schedules as a general course of action, even ALA President Sam Helmick thought our request for an assurance for the 2027 conference was a reasonable request given that round tables were not consulted about how changes to the schedule for the 2026 conference would impact our participation, further eroding already questionable goodwill between ALA and the round tables. Please let us know if this commitment for 2027 is a possibility so we might begin discussing our next course of action." (I am, of course, also tempted to add in that the initial schedule was misrepresented to us, as we were told all evenings were blocked out when Programming first began discussing our plans.)

    What are everyone's thoughts on next steps? I'd like to respond sooner so we might have an answer before folks leave for the holidays, but also don't want to rush into anything that might misrepresent the thoughts of the board and membership at large.



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    Amber Sewell (she/her/hers)
    Teaching and Learning Librarian | University of Nevada, Las Vegas
    Games & Gaming Round Table | Mage
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