Thank you for taking part in the National Games & Libraries Project (NGLP)! The Washington State Library and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction are partnering on this three‑year, IMLS‑funded initiative to better understand how libraries across the United States are engaging with Games‑based Library Services - and how we can support and strengthen that work together.
We’re conducting this nationwide survey to create the first comprehensive, data‑driven snapshot of games‑based library services being offered throughout American libraries. Your insights will help us identify current offerings, gaps, training needs, and opportunities for growth. This work will directly inform the development of a national best‑practices Games-based Library Services Toolkit designed to help libraries of all sizes integrate games‑based services in meaningful, replicable, and scalable ways.
This survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Thanks to a generous donation from foundry10, we are able to offer a raffle to win 1 of 25 $100 gift cards as a "thank you" for participating. If you would like to be considered for the drawing, please provide your contact information at the end of the survey.
To keep our data clean and useful, we ask that only one person per library or institution submit a response. If needed, please gather information from colleagues beforehand so your answers reflect your institution as a whole. Before starting the survey, we’d ask you to have access to your library’s program attendance and Integrated Library System (ILS) collection data at hand, as we are seeking certain relevant data points related to Games-based Library Services.
What We Mean by Games‑Based Library Services (GBLS):
For this study, Games‑based Library Services (GBLS) refers to library experiences or offerings directly centered around modern gaming media — including video games, board games, tabletop role‑playing games (TTRPGs), virtual and augmented reality games (VR and ARGs), and collectible or competitive card games.
For this study, Games‑based Library Services (GBLS) refers to library experiences or offerings directly centered around modern gaming media — including video games, board games, tabletop role‑playing games (TTRPGs), virtual and augmented reality games (VR and ARGs), and collectible or competitive card games.
“Library services” includes any offerings intended for library users, such as in‑person or virtual programs, circulating or in‑library‑use collections, displays, take‑home kits, giveaways, and similar activities.
In short, GBLS encompasses any library experience or offering directly centered on contemporary gaming formats. Please use your best judgment when considering these services throughout the survey. If you need clarification, feel free to reach out!
Confidentiality
Your responses are confidential. The only identifying information we collect is your institution’s ZIP Code, which will be used solely to help us understand geographic distribution and create a national heatmap of GBLS activity and any contact information that is provided for the raffle. Participation is voluntary, and you may skip any question that allows skipping (many responses are mandatory).
Your responses are confidential. The only identifying information we collect is your institution’s ZIP Code, which will be used solely to help us understand geographic distribution and create a national heatmap of GBLS activity and any contact information that is provided for the raffle. Participation is voluntary, and you may skip any question that allows skipping (many responses are mandatory).
If you have questions about the survey or the project, please contact Chris Baker (Games & Learning Consultant / Public Library Consultant; Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction) at Chris.Baker@dpi.wi.gov.
This project was made possible in part by generous funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant LG‑256639‑OLS‑24.
Thank you for contributing to this important national research!