Why Games?
To begin, why should we include modern hobby board games in a library collection? Well the biggest reason I have is, why not? We've move away from being the book place to include movies, computer usage, bicycles, hotspots, video games, and more. Why not continue the trend of adding to the community's general recreational ability with games?
To give some more information, the games I'm referring to are known either as hobby or modern board games. They sometimes are called designer board games because the name of the designer is typically seen on the front of the box. I'll be calling them modern board games, but if you see any of those terms elsewhere, they refer to the same kind of game.
These games have moved beyond the traditional roll and move approach of the older board games. Modern games require thought and planning. Some more than others, but even easy games require some level of critical or creative thinking skills. Whether it's planning the optimal strategy or telling a great story, you'll need to think well as you play the game.
They're also growing in popularity. According to David Sax in his book The Revenge of Analog, board game sales have double-digit growth every year since 2008 and now make up around half of the game and puzzle portion of the $2 billion toy industry. Board game cafe's are emerging as an opportunity to pay a couple bucks and spend all day playing games together. In fact there's one over in Hudson called the Malted Meeple.
Which goes into another aspect. With all of the digital interaction we have anymore, it's nice to put your phone away for a couple hours and sit around a table with friends and family and interact together in person. Board games provide this opportunity to do just this.