Wareham Free Library celebrates International Games Day
The game was afoot at the Wareham Free Library Saturday morning, for the library’s International Games Day event.
Reference services librarian Deb Rich estimated over 40 kids had already come through the library by about 11 a.m.
“We are getting a lot of drop-ins, which surprises me, but I am pleased as punch!” Rich said. “As long as we can keep the traffic flowing from the board games to the video games truck to the card games – people are having a great time.”
Rich said local games and comics vendor Cape Cod Collectibles and the video game truck service Amazin’ Gamin’ of Cape Cod were “fantastic.”
Cape Cod Collectibles owner Eric Guillory said every kid who learned how to play one of the three card games being taught that day got a free pack of cards to begin playing on their own at home.
“The idea is to get kids away from video games, and into something more productive,” Guillory said. “The cards require math, so they learn math skills, strategy skills.”
Guillory said the demo games were rigged so that the children won, but that it was for a good reason.
“That gives them confidence,” Guillory said. “We also have a gaming area for the kids in the store, so kids can come in any time and play. It’s free to play.”
Rich said she and Guillory are also planning to set up another event day in January that involves electric cars. There will be a fee of between $5 and $10 to play, and all proceeds will go towards the library.
“[Cape Cod Collectibles] have been amazing,” Rich said. “I just got in touch with [Guillory] for this, and he said, ‘Well, we can do … this and that,’ and I said, ‘Fantastic! Let me get the calendar!’ All at no charge.”