Library Programming Ideas Centered Around Board Games
General Board Game Events
Educational & Literacy-Based Programs
Themed & Genre-Specific Board Game Events
Intergenerational & Family-Oriented Events
Board Games & Makerspace/Creative Tie-Ins
Community & Social Programs
Card & Classic Game Nights
Below are all of the board games included in the Board Games Kit #1 and their corresponding instructions.
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CATAN |
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Below are all of the board games included in the Board Games Kit #2 and their corresponding instructions.
Below are all of the board games included in the Board Games Kit #3 and their corresponding instructions.
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7 Wonders |
SCYTHE Game Trailer Complete Rulebook Automa Rules ModBoard Rules |
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Brain teaser games offer numerous cognitive and practical benefits.
Cognitive Benefits:
Practical Benefits:
Brain Teaser Kit #2 Programming Ideas:
Young Children (Ages 3-6)
Tweens (Ages 7-12)
Teens (Ages 13-18)
Adults
Kanoodle Portable Puzzle Game
Other Resources:
How to solve the Wooden Snake Cube Puzzle
How to solve the wooden Star Puzzle (the Lumberjack Puzzle is the same concept)
How to solve a Soma Cube Puzzle quickly
How to solve the Falling Star Puzzle
How to solve the Soccer Ball Puzzle
How to solve the Diamond Puzzle
*I highly suggest you place the pieces just like the person in the video has them. It will help!*
Escape rooms are a dynamic addition to library programming, offering a fun and engaging way to build teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while fostering social interaction and community engagement.
Key Benefits:
Skill Development
Engagement & Outreach
Educational Value
Escape rooms are more than just entertainment—they create meaningful learning opportunities while making the library an interactive community hub.

Games included in Escape Room Kit #1
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Escape the Room: The Cursed Dollhouse
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Escape the Room: Murder in the Mafia
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Escape the Room: Mystery at the Stargazer's Manor Instructions |
Escape the Room: Secret of Dr. Gravely's Retreat |
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UNLOCK! Mystery Adventures : The Tonipal's Treasure
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UNLOCK! Escape Adventures : The Formula
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Escape Room: the Game Walkthroughs, downloads, and more below. |
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Games included in Escape Room Kit #2
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Escape the Room: Secret of Dr. Gravely's Retreat |
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Escape the Room: Mystery at the Stargazer's Manor |
Locks in Escape Room Kit #2
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**Please remember to reset the lock back to it's original setting before returning the kit!
That way others may enjoy them as well. **
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Hardshell combination lock box with handle
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Games included in Escape Room Kit #3
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Unlock! Kids: Stories from the Past
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Unlock! Kids: Detective Stories
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UNLOCK! Secret Adventures: The Adventuresers of Ox |
Escape Your House: Spy Team
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Skill Toys Kit #1

Skill Toys Kit #2

Foot Bag; better known as Hacky Sack

Skill Toys Programming Ideas:
Young Children (Ages 3-6)
Tweens (Ages 7-12)
Teens (Ages 13-18)
Adults
All-Ages Library Events
Pindaloo

What is Pindaloo?
Pindaloo is a juggling skill toy that involves throwing a ball into a loop and catching it on the other side, promoting hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
How to Pindaloo tutorial
Check out more Pindaloo tutorials:
Diabolo Chinese Yo-yo

Ready to buy your own and want to know your options?
Diabolo Tricks - Tutorial #1:
Diabolo Tricks - Tutorial #2:
Spinning Plates
PDF Spinning Plates Instructions
International Jugglers Association: The Art of Plate Spinning
Getting Started with Plate Spinning
Plate Intro Spinning
Plate Basic Toss and Turn
Jester Sticks/Flower Sticks

Getting Started with Flower Sticks
Propeller Tutorial Part 1
Propeller Tutorial Part 2
Yo-yo

Yo-yo Tutorials by YoYoExpert®
International Yo-Yo Federation
Getting Started with Yo-yo
10 tricks every Yo-Yo beginner should know by Dazzling Dave, National Yo-Yo Master

Overall Benefits for Library Programming:
This kit offers libraries a unique way to integrate fun, physical, and educational activities into their programming, making it an excellent resource for community engagement.

Twister Ultimate game instructions
Benefits -
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Yardkle / Yardzee Instructions
Yardkle / Yardzee Printable Score Cards
Library Programming Idea - Yardkle
Library Programming Idea - Yardzee
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Soft Horseshoe Set Instructions
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Velcro Toss and Catch games and activities
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Jump Rope Games and Activities
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Parachute Games and Activities
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(Note: The pictured croquet set is no longer included in this kit. An updated image will be provided soon.)
This kit blends fun, movement, and STEAM learning into library programming. It’s perfect for:
This kit offers libraries a unique way to integrate fun, physical, and educational activities into their programming, making it an excellent resource for community engagement.

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STEAM Connection for Programming:
Programming Ideas:

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STEAM Connection for Programming:
Programming Ideas:

Collapsible Cornhole Setup Instructions
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STEAM Connection for Programming:
Programming Ideas:

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STEAM Connection for Programming:
Programming Ideas:

Rubber Balls
***Note: The rubber balls must be deflated before shipping to fit all contents in the tote. Thank you for your attention to these details.****
Benefits -
STEAM Connection for Programming:
Programming Ideas:

Silent Sound System Instructions and Tips
Use the provided folder to store collateral such as an I.D., in exchange for a headset.

Not sure which transmitter to use?
Transmitter Channel Colors
Channel 1 = Blue
Channel 2 = Red
Channel 3 = Green
TX-50RF Transmitter Manual (wired transmitter)


Phone doesn't have an AUX port? We supply adapters for for Android and iPhone users.
AUX Adapters for Apple phones

AUX Adapters for Andriod phones

Silent Sound System Program Ideas:

RPGs are more than just fun—they’re powerful tools for building essential skills in people of all ages. By encouraging players to create characters, solve problems collaboratively, and make decisions through storytelling, RPGs promote creativity, critical thinking, communication, empathy, and teamwork. They offer a low-pressure space for social connection, improvisation, and imagination—especially valuable for young people who may struggle with traditional group activities. Hosting RPG programs in your library not only fosters a sense of community but also positions the library as a hub for inclusive, literacy-rich play. Whether it’s a one-shot game night, an afterschool campaign, or a family-friendly RPG sampler, these programs invite patrons to engage with storytelling and learning in an entirely new way—no experience required.

RPGs offer a fun and flexible way to promote storytelling, teamwork, and problem-solving. While many games require rulebooks or paid materials, there are several excellent RPGs that are legally free to download and easy to learn.
Here are a few curated options, each with a brief description and the appropriate age range.
Lasers & Feelings
Mausritter
The Witch is Dead
Players collaborate to create an original tale steeped in dread, where characters are pushed to their limits by both external threats and internal conflicts. Every choice carries weight, and the growing unease is part of the experience.
Instead of rolling dice, this game uses a tumbling block tower to determine the outcome of risky actions. Pull from the tower and you succeed. Refuse to pull and you fail. The choice is yours. But if the tower falls ...
Dread - Basic GM Sheets
Dread - Basic Qestionaire Sheets
This is a lighthearted, easy-to-learn tabletop RPG that doesn’t require a Game Master. Players take on the roles of goblins setting out on a chaotic adventure. The main mechanic centers on rolling a d6 to determine the outcome of each action. As players guide their goblins through a multi-stage quest, each roll either advances the story or triggers unpredictable consequences. Success drives the quest forward—while failure often leads to hilarious mishaps.
This isn’t any number-crunching in this simple game, designed by Grant Howitt. Each goblin clutch is given an honorific (surname), an expertise (something their good at), a quirk (something weird about them), a dream (aspirations, go!), and a family heirloom (A worthless trinket dug up near the spawning pits, elevated by a name far more glorious than it deserves.). Each goblin is also given their own “defining feature.”
Goblin Quest - Character Sheet

Dungeons & Dragons Quick Overview
How to play Dungeons & Dragons
What You Need to Play Dungeons & Dragons
Characters
How to Make a Character in Dungeons & Dragons
What Class Should You Play in Dungeons & Dragon
D&D Dice Explained
Books
2024 Player's Handbook | Everything You Need to Know
New Spells | 2024 Player's Handbook
How to be a Dungeon Master
For more videos, tips, game rules, adventures, and more visit:
Dungeons & Dragons Official YouTube page
or
Adventure Maximus! is role-playing game designed for ages 8 and up. Set in the imaginative post-apocalyptic world of Ex-Machina, players create characters, embark on adventures, discover treasures, and become heroes. With easy-to-learn mechanics using cards and dice, the game introduces core RPG concepts while encouraging creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.

In “Magical Kitties Save the Day,” you play as a superpowered kitten in a world full of everyday chaos and mysterious troubles. While your humans remain blissfully unaware, it’s up to you and your fellow magical kitties to fix what’s gone wrong—whether it’s a neighborhood monster, a missing toy, or a cosmic rift. This game emphasizes cooperation, creativity, and storytelling, making it accessible and fun for players of all ages.
Magical Kitties - Character Sheets
Do:
Don’t:
