Discover how libraries across the country are creating their own outdoor games and interactive stories that showcase local history, landmarks, and voices. These playful activities, often designed by library staff, include texting with murals, audio tours by Black feminist historians, ghost scavenger hunts, and "I spy" quests for architecture and culture. These low-tech creations are part of a national project, Engaging Beyond Our Walls, which aims to connect libraries with their communities in innovative ways. Learn how over 50 towns and cities have already joined in, using free templates and training from the Playful City Lab of American University and the DC Public Library. Find out how these do-it-yourself tools can help libraries of all sizes tell their own stories and build stronger places. Whether you're looking for a small or big project, this webinar will provide you with inspiration, resources, and real outcomes that can catalyze community engagement.

Presented by: Benjamin Stokes, Associate Professor, American University and Director, Playful City Lab; and David Quick, Adult Services Coordinator, DC Public Library

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• View webinar recording (You will be prompted to login to our free Course Catalog.)

Webinar attachments

• View slides (pdf)
  
• View chat (xls)
• View captions (txt)
  
• Learner Guide (doc) Use alone or with others to extend your learning.
  

Related resources and links

• Learn more about the project, Local games and interactive stories to Engage Beyond Our Walls
• Engaging Beyond Our Walls, project homepage
• Recipe Book
  
• Tasting Menu of 13 different projects
• More information on the Hive Mechanic tool
  
• Report: Remixing Pokémon GO for City Goals
• Locally played : real-world games for stronger places and communities, by Benjamin Stokes
• Stay in Touch with the project
• Shared in chat:
• PLA study, Public Library Services for Strong Communities Report that showed that millenials and Gen Z trend towards preferring print items vs. digital items in libraries