Beyond the Bookshelf: Games in the Library Workshop

Wisconsin Valley Library Service invites you to join us for a free workshop about Games in Libraries on Friday, October 24, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM! 

This WVLS Youth Services Workshop, at the Tomahawk Public Library, will explore the power of play in libraries, featuring video games with Chris Baker (DPI) and tabletop role-playing games with game designer Jon Spike. Discover practical strategies for building collections, creating engaging programs, and using games to support literacy, community, and creativity.  Morning snacks and lunch will be provided. 

Spots are limited. Don’t miss this chance to learn and play with fellow library staff! Registration is free and open until October 19. 

Image by Elle from Pixabay

Beyond the Bookshelf: Games in the Library

Discover the power of play in libraries! 

This workshop will begin with a tour to see how Tomahawk Public Library brought talk, read, sing, write, and play to life through their 2019/2020 WVLS Innovation and Collaboration Literacy Grant.

Next, DPI Public Library Consultant Chris Baker will take participants into the world of video games with his presentation Games are Not Optional: Addressing the Priority (and Gaps) of Game-Based Library Services. Baker will provide an overview of the current state of gaming in the U.S. Together, we'll tackle questions like "How popular is gaming in 2025?", and "Who 'are' gamers?"; additionally, we'll briefly explore the unique educational benefits that games offer. Most importantly, we'll discuss why these questions should matter to the modern librarian. Baker will also share how libraries can build strong gaming collections, design engaging programs, and connect with patrons of all ages. Learn practical strategies for integrating games into library services to boost literacy, community building, and creativity.

In the afternoon, game designer Jon Spike will introduce tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) in his presentation How Tabletop Games, Playful Learning, and Game Design Promote Literacy and Creation in the Library. Board games, card games, and role-playing games are experiencing a renaissance in pop culture - so how can we leverage them in the library space? In this session, we'll explore how games build skills through STEAM topics, literacy development, and much more! Prepare to engage in activities that you can turn around and use in your libraries tomorrow!

Throughout the day, we’ll highlight how games promote social-emotional growth, inspire STEAM learning, and create welcoming spaces for connection and storytelling.

Register Here

This workshop is worth 5 contact hours (including 3.5 technology hours).

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Agenda

·  9:00–9:15 a.m. Arrival / Networking

·  9:15–9:30 a.m. Welcome / Introductions

·  9:30–10:15 a.m. Tour

·  10:15–10:30 a.m. Break

·  10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Games Are Not Optional: Addressing the Priority (and Gaps) of Games-Based Library Services - Chris Baker, Public Library / Games & Learning Consultant, DPI

·  12:00–1:00 p.m. Lunch

·  1:00–3:00 p.m. How Tabletop Games, Playful Learning, and Game Design Promote Literacy and Creation in the Library - Jon Spike, PhD, CEO of GamestormEDU

·  3:00–3:30 p.m. Discussion / Wrap-Up

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Speaker Bios

Chris Baker
Chris Baker is a video game scholar and Public Library / Games & Learning Consultant with the Bureau of Libraries at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Before joining DPI, Chris worked as a Youth Services Librarian at the Spring Green Community Library, then as a Teen Services Librarian, Adult Services Librarian, and Technology Coordinator at the Portage Public Library.

Chris’s background also includes a robust career in professional theatre. He earned a BA in Theatre from UW-Parkside and a Masters in Fine Arts in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University, where his thesis examined video games, learning, and society. Chris also holds an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

He specializes in games-based library services, project management, innovation, and collaboration. Chris currently serves as President-Elect of the American Library Association Games & Gaming Round Table.

Jon Spike
Jon Spike, PhD, is a former K–12 English teacher and technology integrator who now serves as the Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Integration Services at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in the College of Education and Professional Studies. He earned his doctorate in Instructional Technology from Northern Illinois University, researching collaborative learning experience design in virtual reality.

Jon is the CEO of GamestormEDU, where he designs educational board and card games for schools, families, and organizations. His releases include Gamestormers (2023), a competitive storytelling game, and Doomscroll (2025), a social media literacy card game—both finalists in the Gee Learning Game Awards Tabletop Competition.

Jon has presented nationally at the International Society of Technology in Education Conference, the Future of Educational Technology Conference, and the North American Simulation and Gaming Association (NASAGA) Conference. He has received the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) Emerging Leader Award and the NASAGA Rising Star Award.