Why Aren't RPGs in Public Libraries?

[Stormonu]

Back in the 1E days, my local library got and lost 3 sets of the core rules and stopped carrying them.

Last year, out of curiosity while at our local library (first time I'd been in a library in about 10 years or more), I checked through the index to see if they had any roleplaying books. To my astonishment, I found a couple D&D and White Wolf RPGs listed and searched them out. While the DMG was checked out, there was a PHB & MM there, as well as the core World of Darkness book and a d20 copy of Gamma World.

This was in the deep south in a library system that I had stopped frequenting because of their hostility towards D&Der's; I was rather surprised to find them!

 

[Rechan]

I would say that back when I lived in TN, the local library hosted a "Learn D&D" day when WotC was previewing 4e before it released. It was the same basic thing you'd see in an FLGS demo - 3 encounters or so.

 

[OnlineDM]

For what it's worth, my local library currently has one 4e Player's Handbook on shelf, 4 4e DMGs and 1 DMG2. They also have one copy of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook (which I had previously checked out before buying my own copy) and three copies of the Pathfinder Bestiary. They also have a few random 3.5 rulebooks (but no PHB/DMG/MM).

 

[SkredlitheOgre]

Out of curiosity, I just did an online search of my public library system (The Flatirons Library Consortium: three branches in Boulder, one in Louisville and the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library in Broomfield, Colorado.) and the Main Branch had copies of 4e stuff, but they are ALL missing, as well as some of the 3e stuff and the AD&D DMG, PHB and Dieties and Demigods. All missing. But they have the Dungeons and Dragons movie, so it's all good, right?

However, the branch in Louisville has a lot of the 4e books and the 3e DMG, PHB and Monster Manual because they're labeled as 'Reference,' so you can't check them out.

There was a report here in Boulder about five years ago that one of our favorite used bookstores was closed temporarily due to police investigation of homeless people going into the library, stealing books and then selling them to this used bookstore.

This is, as they say, why we can't have nice things.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

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.

Books by H. P. Lovecraft, et ali. are often stolen at our local library.

Sex by Madonna - they went through eight copies, half fell apart (terrible, terrible binding, not over, umm, use), half were stolen.

The Bible - most commonly stolen book, but they have to keep it in stock.

I used to LARP with one of the librarians at the Portland Public Library.

The Auld Grump

 

[frankthedm]

There was a report here in Boulder about five years ago that one of our favorite used bookstores was closed temporarily due to police investigation of homeless people going into the library, stealing books and then selling them to this used bookstore

Accepting stolen property is a crime and I've rarely seen a library book that wasn't easy to recognize barring easy to recognize damage. If a used book store wants to accept discarded library books, it seems to me checking with the library of origin to ensure the items were discarded and not stolen would be Due Diligence.

 

[malcolypse]

My local library used to have a fair selection of gaming books. Then they decided to get rid of them, and the owner of my FLGS grabbed them on the cheap.

 

[S'mon]

RPG books aren't like fiction, you pretty well always need to have them with you to run the game. So they will inevitably get stolen or not returned.

 

[hopeless]

Your answer is...

Removed on the grounds the above explained it much better!

 

[NewJeffCT]

Never even considered the library for RPG books. I've usually had at least the core books of each edition, so never thought to get other books at my local library.

A quick search of my local library catalog indicates they have about a dozen D&D novels and the Dragonlance movie, but no rulebooks or modules. However, if I go beyond my town, there are some nearby towns that do have at least the 4E core rulebooks and the D&D for Dummies book. I saw a few pre 4E rulebooks as well, including a 1E Deities & Demigods. No modules that I could see, though.