On Wednesday the 22nd of May, patrons and staff of the Jefferson Branch Library embarked on a quest to rescue a family who had been kidnapped by goblins. A dungeon was discovered, Bugbears were charmed with magic, giant rats were slain with Eldritch Blasts, and a stove was moved to uncover a secret door. All we needed to start this adventure was a map, a couple sets of twenty-sided dice, and some imagination.
Dungeons & Dragons is a cultural phenomenon that enthralls people across generational divides. In this case, teen librarian Ernesto Covarrubias supervised a game for teens ages 13 to 19, led by the preeminent Dungeon Master (and also preeminent library volunteer) Armen Haftvani. He arrived armed with hand-drawn schematics, colorful dice, a wand/paper towel tube, and a talent for delivering scintillating narration. Under his guidance, two library staff, and four savvy teens became deeply invested in the outcome of our story.
Providing a space for teenagers to engage their imaginations together is more important now than ever. As the cultural conversation around our reliance on screens for entertainment and connection continues, it’s paramount that we take steps to offer other social outlets for the youth in our community. This Wednesday’s D&D game was the first of a monthly series that aims to bring young people together to chat, make friends, and finally determine the answer to the question: What’s the difference between a goblin and an orc?