GAMERT (Gaming) Round Table

Dear colleagues,

The Comics and Fiction Funnel is seeking support for our proposal to improve access to analog games via library catalogs. Currently, people cannot search for game studies works about physical games based on the topics of the games being analyzed (e.g., group identity or imperialism); this sort of search can be done for video games, however, leading to unequal access to scholarship. Also, library patrons cannot find analog games themselves by content in library catalogs (e.g., games with queer or wizard characters, games about climate change, games incorporating visual or motor skills, etc.), again unlike searches for video games.

Based on our research and analysis of current issues, the Comics and Fiction Funnel created this report, with a recommendation to change the existing Library of Congress subject heading for games to allow the use of "Games" as both a topical and form modifier for all subjects, to help patrons more easily locate both research about physical games and the games themselves.

Given the explosive growth of game studies and library game collections, we hope that you will agree that improving access to analog games is vital for the games community and for libraries; and we hope that you will support our recommendations.

Summary

The growth of game studies and library game collections over recent decades, and the corresponding proliferation of catalog records for games and game scholarship, reveal an area for improvement in the Library of Congress Subject Headings. Catalogers implement a variety of workarounds when cataloging games and resources about them due to the current restrictions of the topical subdivision $x Games (limited to use only under ethnic groups) and lack of a free-floating form subdivision $v Games, resulting in inconsistent WorldCat records, weakened data interoperability between catalogs, and barriers to user searching and scholarly, educational, and recreational access to games. To improve access to all games scholarship and collections, the Comics and Fiction Funnel recommends expanding the scope of the topical subdivision $x Games so that it can be applied to all subjects and not limited to ethnic groups, as well as establishing the free-floating form subdivision $v Games.

If you are interested in endorsing our recommendations (as an individual or organization), please fill out this form or respond to this email by October 16th.