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G2S Project Code: 2023-WA-93225
State: Washington
Fiscal Year: 2023
Grantee
Washington State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Sara White
Director Phone: 360-570-5585
Director Email: sara.white@sos.wa.gov
General Information
Title: Tabletop Role-Playing Games in Libraries
State Project Code: 09550-2441-12
Start Date: 01/01/2024
End Date: 09/30/2024
Abstract: Tabletop Role-Playing Games were a major focus for the Washington State Library (WSL) in 2024. WSL promoted role-playing games as a way to support creativity, collaborative storytelling, and community connections in libraries by offering grants, trainings, and resources related to gaming.
State Goal: Goal 1. Promote economic growth, access to education, and lifelong learning for all.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$11,066.85
$0.00
$0.00
$11,066.85
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
After-school activities
Programming & Event Planning
Activities
Activity Details
Title: TTRPG Mini and Innovation subgrants
Narrative: The TTRPG Mini and Innovation grants supported the implementation or augmentation of tabletop role-playing game services in libraries. Forty libraries received non-competitive Mini grants of up to $400, which recipients mostly used to purchase games, books, dice, figures, and other supplies. Nine libraries received competitive Innovation grants of up to $2,000, which were for larger projects like a speaker series, bilingual game programs, and the creation of original TTRPGs. Innovation grants will continue into the next reporting period to give awardees more time to complete their projects.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 252
Number of electronic materials acquired: 35
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 30
Academic Libraries: 12
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Training for TTRPG facilitation
Narrative: The Youth Services Consultant offered free training opportunities for library staff to increase their confidence in leading TTRPG games at their library. Game to Grow provided full-day facilitation trainings for Dungeons & Dragons in 5 locations around the state and Heart of the Deernicorn provided a webinar about facilitating story games.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 7
Average number in attendance per session: 33
Number of times program administered: 6


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 60
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 2
School Libraries: 8
Other: 1
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 75
Agree: 11
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 1
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 46
Agree: 29
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 9
Disagree: 3
Strongly Disagree: 3
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 49
Agree: 30
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 8
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 1
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 56
Agree: 27
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 5
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
This was the first year of this project and staff were surprised and delighted by the enthusiastic reception. Several grantees reported that it was their first time managing a grant and that they gained valuable project management experience and better relationships with their finance departments through the process. Grantees also reported the positive responses they saw that their libraries. "The majority of our attendees are regulars, who come nearly every week to play, and seeing the combination of older players who have been playing D&D since the 80s and kids just learning to play has been an incredible experience. Watching the players grow in their confidence and collaboration skills has been truly rewarding. One week a player beamed with pride after using diplomacy to solve an in game conflict, and we’ve had players who were a bit rowdy one week come the next to apologize to the other players. These games have been enriched due to the books and supplies we’ve been able to purchase using the grant." "We have one regular youth who spends a lot of time at the library and has been drawn into DnD and absolutely loves it. It's one of the few things that pulls him away from Roblox, and I love that he is interacting with peers that get an opportunity to see him in a different light than they do in other settings. This grant means that he has his own dice to use when he goes into that group, a small but powerful thing."
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
A goal of WSL's subgrants is to provide a supportive, non-intimidating grant experience so that recipients gain confidence and comfort in applying for more competitive grants. It was extremely gratifying to see this project help fulfill that goal and WSL will be looking for additional opportunities to support the development of grant writing and grant management skills in WA library staff.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The popularity of TTRPGs was the perfect hook to bring in new grant applicants and is appealing to libraries looking to build community. The grant project also had the surprising effect of attracting donations of games and services from local game companies excited about the project.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThis project has sparked a wave of games-related initiatives, including an IMLS National Leadership grant in partnership with the Wisconsin State Library and therapeutically applied role-playing gaming at the Echo Glen Children's Center library. It was very timely and the passionate response from libraries and communities has been uplifting for everyone involved.
Project Tags: games, Dungeons & Dragons, tabletop role-playing games