Board games can now be checked out of Carroll County’s public libraries

Carroll County’s public library system has added 19 board and card games to its collection, available for checkout now.

“In addition to the benefits of social interactions and strengthening our family and social relationships, multiple studies indicate the strong correlation between gaming and improving cognitive functions and mental health,” Carroll County Public Library’s Director of Communications Lisa Picker said in an email.

The tabletop games in the system’s library of things collections have been incredibly popular items since their availability was announced on April 3, according to Picker.

Many of the games were donated to libraries by employees, Picker said. The system also spent about $250 to round out its collection with several highly popular games.

The board games available now represent a pilot project, which will be evaluated and possibly expanded this September, Picker added.

“Modern libraries curate collections based upon the needs of their communities,” Picker said in an email. “Here in Carroll County, our library has rubber stamps, knitting needles, and even fishing rods! Board games are a perfect complement.”

The board game pilot project stems from an idea from Joy Zimmer, a library associate at the Westminster branch. Zimmer said she hopes the availability of tabletop games inspires county residents to learn a new hobby.

“Learning new games may mean making mistakes, but you can learn from those and grow your skills,” Zimmer said. “Social gaming helps build community.”

Connecting to community is part of the library system’s core mission, Picker added.

In addition to board and card games the system’s library of things collection also includes Chromebook computers , fishing poles, Hero 5 model GoPro cameras and accessories, knitting needles, rubber stamps, and STEAM-based make-and-learn kits — which provide families with educational science, technology, engineering, arts and math projects.

The tabletop game collection includes Catan, Brain Games The Game, Carcassonne, Saboteur, Sequence, Slamwich, Machi Koro, Monopoly Rivals Edition, Sushi Go Party!, Just One, Too Many Cinderellas, Wits & Wagers Family, The Great Penguin Bookchase, Wallet, Monopoly Deal Card Game, Kamisado, Codenames, Escape: The Curse of The Temple, and Jeopardy.

As of Monday, only Wallet is listed as available on the library system’s website. Slamwich, Machi Koro and Escape are on hold, while The Great Penguin Bookchase has been transferred. The other 14 titles have been checked out.

Library visitors are welcome to play board games in the library or take them home to play.

The library system will host chess games at the Finksburg branch on Wednesday, Codenames games at City Park Gaming & Brew Room in Westminster on May 4, various board games geared toward adults at the Mount Airy branch on May 8, and American Mah Jongg games at the Eldersburg branch on May 13.