Collections of books and places to study are often what define college libraries — there’s nothing like finding a place to hunker down and type up a paper in a building where you have access to everything that you’ll need to get your work done. 

Those things ring true for the Harold and Wilma Good Library, but there’s also so much more that it has to offer beyond academics — hot drinks, board games, gaming systems and seed swapping. 

Within the walls of the library, there’s a reason for everything that has come to be. “We follow your trends,” said Kelsey McLane, promotions and accessibility librarian at the Good Library. “College is stressful enough, come relax at the library!” 

Of all of the ways to relieve stress at the library, checking out board games has been a draw for many. The resource room is home to the board game library, and it has found its way into the lives of many beyond campus. 

Community member Teresa Mack is an avid board game player. She began to check games out from the library one summer after hearing that they were available. “I’ve checked out a couple of games just to see what they’re like before buying them,” Mack said. “Wingspan” is one of her favorites, and since she has checked it out from the library, she has considered investing in her own edition. “You can check it out for a month which is pretty awesome when it comes to getting to know [the games].”

Whether checking games out or trying them in the library, there has seemingly been more interest in them as of recently. Brenton Pham, a senior writing major and student library worker, said, “The board games have been getting a lot of traffic, especially this year. … A lot of people come in to play games or check them out.”

Carrie Eikler, admissions and events manager, visits the library with her family when they can’t make it to the public library. She spoke about board games and video games, saying: “My children have enjoyed picking out video games to bring home, as well as board games.” She has also enjoyed being able to try out a variety of digital and board games before her family adds them to their collection.

The library also hosts a variety of activites. Baking contests for cakes in the fall and pies in the spring are included in some of the annual events, as well as the Geek Off contest that just ended recently. Pham said, “Kelsey organizes a lot of events at the library and is planning some fun events for the future … I don’t know of another library that hosts events like ours.”

Additionally, there are events

for families including the Tinker Lab, focusing around STEAM-based reading and activities for parents and children twice a month; monthly story-times for children in the Campus Center for Young Children; and “one-off” events for campus that are promoted on the library’s Instagram.

Beyond books, activities and technology, the library offers a great place to work. “Our staff is especially kind and welcoming,” Pham said. “Noah [Lederach] makes a lot of food for the staff — he’ll make curries for us and email the staff to go and grab it.” Pham has worked at the library since May of his first year, and in that time has also taken to noticing who only comes in to steal warm drinks.

All that is offered by the library has been because of feedback. In terms of materials or events, the library wants to continue collaboration. Because of groups asking to collaborate or students saying what they’re looking for, McLane has been happy to help out to continue to foster a building of belonging and curiosity.

For Eikler, the Good Library has been a wonderful place to be, commenting on how curiosity and imagination have been fostered in the space. “In the library you can stretch and grow, play and ponder, and … eat pie.”