It's International Game Month. Let's play!

The American Library Association celebrates International Game Month all of November. International Games Month (IGM) is an annual celebration of games, play, libraries and learning! Jenny Levine and Scott Nicholson started National Games Day in 2007.

This free event grew out of an idea to attempt to set a world record for the number of people playing the same game at the same time at libraries around the world. National Games Day became International Games Day (IGD) in 2012, International Games Week (IGW) in 2017, and finally International Games Month (IGM) in 2022. It has grown to include events on all seven continents. Even today, it is still raising awareness of games and gaming in libraries to publishers and the public. This event has become a valuable way for libraries and their communities to join and engage in play each year.

During this week each year libraries from around the world participate in local and international gaming activities. Over the years, they have hosted a Rock Band contest, Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Mario Kart tournaments, and Minecraft Hunger Games. In 2012, Global Gossip Game was introduced to libraries around the world. In this game, a phrase is passed from library to library. Traditionally, this game starts in the St. Kilda Library in Melbourne, Australia, and it is then passed through libraries on all seven continents before it ended at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska.

Each year, game publishers donate tabletop games and access to video games to hundreds of libraries for this event. These generous donations have often been the first items in a library’s game collection. In 2008, this event had only two sponsors in the United States, Hasbro, and Wizards of the Coast. The number of sponsors has steadily increased with donations for libraries around the world. I think this is such a fun idea, and wish I had discovered it sooner.

In the past 8 years, 10,407 libraries have registered to participate. Three hundred eighty libraries have participated in video game tournaments. 2,073 people at 174 libraries have participated in the Global Gossip Game. IGW has been celebrated in 54 countries and territories on all 7 continents.

Did you know that we have games in our collection? We have many that can be checked out. We have many puzzles for all ages and sizes.

During Summer Reading we had puzzles left out in the library for patrons to help build to celebrate our theme of all together now. Would you want to see us participate in this international game day?

We are always looking for your feedback. Currently, we hold Dungeons and Dragons on the second and fourth Saturdays of the Month from 10 a.m. to noon. This is fun for the whole family. If there is a game program you would like us to hold, or a game you want us to purchase for our collection make sure you let us know by calling 575-885-6776 or emailing us at [email protected]. Life gets busy but games are always a fun way for families and friends to enjoy time together.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: It's International Game Month. Let's play!