Why Aren't RPGs in Public Libraries?

[Therise]

Something people haven't mentioned yet:

- a good portion of RPGs aren't just books, they have a lot of loose material

If you have a boxed set, perhaps with dice and separate pages with fold-out maps, that kind of item generally would need more special care than just a regular book. Those things often have to go into a "special collections" department, which general libraries often don't have enough funding, space, or methods in place to keep track of what's supposed to remain in the box.

Plus, people sometimes steal free-floating things like dice, fold-out maps, and the like. Or they play the game, and accidentally leave it at home or in their backpack.

 

[the Jester]

I think that if you were going to put RPGs in the library, adventure modules would be best. Those you only use for a short time and then you're done.

That is actually a really good idea. Actually, modules might be interesting reading even to a non-gamer if you ignore all the game stats and the like.

 

[Celebrim]

Because they would be stolen.

This is what happened to all the RPG material purchased by my college library.

Incidentally, the librarians were the prime suspects. My understanding is that the majority of stolen books had walked out the back door in the hands of people paid to work in the library, either the permenent staff or else the students who worked their.

 

[Mark CMG]

Why Aren't RPGs in Public Libraries?

Yup, theft is the answer most librarians I have asked cite as the problem with keeping RPG books in libraries. I wish I had asked what other items typically have the same affliction. That might be an interesting corollary to this ongoing problem.

 

[M.L. Martin]

I've actually seen an upswing over the past decade or so, similar to the rise in comic TPBs on library shelves. Curiously, the Rochester MN Public Library has managed to hold onto a copy of the 3.5 PH2 for several years without it getting stolen.

 

[was]

2) The D&D-is-evil/BADD scares of the early '80s. I've actually heard a librarian quote this one at one point as reasons why her library divested itself of D&D titles - not because they agreed with it, but the grief from the BADD people made it a pain to deal with.

Still very prevalent in many communities and can cause problems for an institution that depends upon public approval/funding for its continued existence.

 

[frankthedm]

Ask your librarian.

 

[frankthedm]

If I understood what the issue was, I might be able to work around it, perhaps by just donating books or something.

Check your library's policies on donated books. Some just sell the donated books rather than making them part of the collection.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Because they consistently get stolen so the libraries stopped replacing them. Most of that was firmed up back in the 1e days.

This is how I remember things as well. They used to have 1E and 2E books at the libraries around here when I was a kid, but people stole them (alot). Eventually I think they just didn't want to deal with it.

 

[billd91]

My library system has quite a few 3rd edition books. I used to read them often before buying. There tended to be a long wait with lots of holds though. I have no idea how 4e materials compare to 3e.