Playing board games is becoming increasingly popular both at home and in public libraries. Board games encourage critical thinking, support learning, inspire meetings in person, and promote cooperation. On the other hand, some would argue board games disrupt the silent environment in a library. To have a successful board game event for teens, libraries must find an accommodating space, select suitable board games, understand the rules of selected games, and advertise the event in a space frequented by young people. We conducted a pilot study, in which we examined events listed on libraries’ websites from February to May 2022 to determine how often the board games events are held and what games libraries offer. We selected ten central regional libraries in Slovenia and ten foreign public libraries. In other countries, events like these are commonly held either as a stand-alone event or through what is known as a teen club. In contrast, Slovenian public libraries do not hold these events as frequently. We then contacted the Ljubljana City Library and foreign public libraries that hold board game events for a short interview. Librarians attribute the importance of board games in public libraries because they are appealing to a wider variety of people and encourage critical thinking and social interaction face to face rather than on a screen.
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