T01 - Dungeons and Discourse: Collaborative table-top role-playing games develop storytelling and social-emotional skills.
Session Description
From references in pop-culture, to reference books making it onto bestseller lists, the tabletop role-playing game is entering the mainstream. This story-based collaborative, often in-person activity is a great fit for public library programming. An interactive panel of youth library workers and gaming experts will describe how diverse public libraries are integrating roleplaying into their children’s and teen programming, and link these programs to research around literacy and social and emotional learning. Recommended for those interested in supporting social connection, problem solving, and creative thinking through a platform of storytelling. Be prepared for adventures!
Speakers
Maryn Ashdown, Vancouver Public Library
Biography
Maryn Ashdown is the Associate Director of Neighbourhood & Youth Services for the Vancouver Public Library, an advocate for risky play, and a current MBA candidate with SFU. With over 20 years of D&D gaming experience. she firmly believes that collaborative storytelling connects diverse participants, and creates conditions for complex conversations in an increasingly polarized world. Her passion for storytelling may or may not be inspired by an unsavoury interest in a unified theory of everything.
Sarah Felkar, West Vancouver Memorial Library
Biography
Sarah Felkar is the Head of Technology at the West Vancouver Memorial Library. She specializes in digital literacy, ebooks and digital publishing and technology planning. She has been actively playing table-top role-playing games for more than five years and currently is a game master for two groups made of of people with very different personality types.
James McCann, Richmond Public Library
Biography
McCann has written four teen novels: Rancour, Pyre, Flying Feet, and Children of Ruin and a middle grade novel, The Three Spartans. Spartans at Sea, his sixth novel, is scheduled for spring 2021. He has also written book reviews for the Canadian Children’s Book News, and taught countless workshops for all ages throughout BC and in South Korea. From 2006 – 2009 he was the president of CWILL BC. Currently, he’s working as a digital services technician with the Richmond Public Library. Most of his free time is spent writing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and practicing the ukulele.
Stephanie Hong, Vancouver Public Library
Biography
Stephanie Hong is a library technician in Teen Services at the Vancouver Public Library. She is passionate about innovative and engaging programs for tweens and teens and co-developed VPL’s Dungeons & Dragons 101 program and Teen Summer Challenge series. Over the last two years, Stephanie has also been the Writing & Book Camp Coordinator where she works to foster a creative community amongst emerging writers and storytellers. When she’s not developing exciting programs for teens, she is instagramming all things #teensatvpl.
Gibsons & District Public Library
Biography
Justin has worked as a Circulation Assistant at the Gibsons & District Public Library for the last two years. He has been an Event Organizer for the Sunshine Coast gaming community for the last decade. His passion for helping young people learn about themselves and others through the magic of storytelling and role playing has led to collaborations with the Child and Youth Services Coordinator at GDPL. They have developed a training course for Dungeon Masters new to the game. Justin continues to lead trainings and adventures for children and adults on a regular basis in the Library.