The Downtown Chandler Public Library has a new, free board game area called the Book and Board Library Lounge.

Alexis Merritt, a member of the Chandler Library Board, said board games have been a passion of hers since high school.

“I discovered Risk and would organize long afternoons playing the game with two or three other friends,” she said. “I found my love of board games increased once I played Settlers of Catan during the recession and was able to organize board game nights with friends as an affordable weekend night activity.”

Merritt said she and her husband and I found a local board game store in the UK that would allow anyone to come in on Friday nights and play any of its games.

“Even better, a game guru would teach you how to play the game so you could get started fairly quickly,” she said. “Sometimes, we purchased a game, other times we just spent a few hours with friends learning a new to us game with many smiles and laughs.”

Merritt said their first board game café experience was in Oxford, England.

“The Thirsty Meeples provided hundreds of games to pick off the shelves and start playing, with the guidance of a game guru,” she said. “We made two new friends and played the four-player version of Dixit. What a fun way to spend time in a foreign country. I had always hoped to find something like this near home.”

After spending time at a Hillsboro, Oregon library last summer, Merritt says, she was amazed to discover the local library system had thousands of strategy board games available for checkout.

“I was inspired and encouraged to apply for the empty library board seat and bring my request to Chandler,” she said. “This (past) fall, the Downtown Chandler Library Café space was going through a revamp and the board game idea needed a home. That was how the Game Café was born.”

Over the past four months, Merritt says, she created an inventory of board games that was inspired by strategy/euro style games for adults, kids, and families.

“Our selection is not your typical Monopoly and Sorry games,” she said. “We are focusing on games that make you think and help you discover new worlds and new ideas. With a generous donation from the Friends of the Library and the help of nearby Chandler Game Store, REKreation Games, we created a dynamic list of familiar and new titles.”

Also, Merritt said, more than half of our collection was donated by enthusiastic game publishers happy to support our efforts to bring the community together over a love of games.

“So far, over 18 publishers have donated to our game library,” she said.
Games can be played inside the library and snacks, drinks and even ice cream can be purchased from the lounge.

“We even have a brand new board game table with drink inserts in our reservable game room behind the counter,” she said. “We have a category system to help patrons find something to play from two-player games, family games, and beginner, medium, and more involved games, there is something for everyone. If you don’t know how to play, we encourage you to look up a ‘how to play’ video on Youtube or Boardgamegeek.”

The ribbon cutting for the Downtown Chandler Book and Board Library Lounge was set for April 27.

Merritt would like to help get the word out to the community so they can come enjoy what she calls a one-of-a-kind opportunity to try out a beloved game or a brand new one.

“We have more than 150 games ready to play, including Mahjong and ‘Escape Room’ style games,” she said. “This free-to-the-public game lounge is one of a kind in the East Valley. There is no cover charge and community members can bring their friends and family right into the library to play.”