The Epic Story of Four Library Nerds and a Grant

It all started, as most things do around here, with a few library nerds and a crazy idea.

"Wouldn't it be cool if people could play video games here?"

We all agreed that it would, indeed, be cool. Not because it would mean we could play at work, but for all of the intellectual and educational reasons listed on yon sidebar. No, really! We're serving the community here!

So we pondered things for a while. Where would we get the equipment? Should we ask for contributions? What if we brought in our own stuff? How does library gaming work, anyway? And then, late last year, we found a listing for a grant that would provide funding for the very programs we wanted to do.

So we library nerds and grant noobs piled into the library van and traveled to downtown Nashville where the lovely people at Tennessee State Library and Archives answered our questions and instructed us in the art of grant writing. After a couple of weeks of writing, sweating, and gnashing of teeth (because it's been at least ten years this nerd's last formal paper) we sent the thing off and waited.

Tom Petty was right. Waiting is the hardest part.

And then we got an e-mail. All we saw at first was "I am delighted to inform you..." And then the squeeing started followed by the scary realization of exactly how much stuff we had to do to get ready.

We're almost there. And instead of being scary, the preparations have been a lot of fun! With the help of the Murfreesboro YMCA and the Smyrna Senior Club, we'll be providing at least one program a month at both Linebaugh and Smyrna branches for the next year and beyond. You'll be able to Wii bowl and box, play DDR on state-of-the-art metal dance pads, solve mysteries with Nancy Drew and Miss Marple, rock out with Rock Band 2, and compete for bragging rights with Mario Kart Double Dash and Super Smash Bros. And that's just the beginning!

We'll keep you updated here and more frequently on Facebook. (Just search for Smyrna Gamers.) Check back for the upcoming schedule and the occasional fun gaming article!