What Is A Board Game Library?

Maybe you’ve heard the term, “board game library” and you’re wondering what it is. The good news for you is we have an answer! So, what is it?

A board game library is a collection of board games. Although there’s no true definition, a library should have enough games to fill up three shelves on a bookshelf. It would also ideally have a bookshelf to do it with too. However, ultimately a board game library is what you make of it.

What Is A Board Game Library?

“Board game library” is a term you might hear in the board gaming world from time to time. It’s synonymous with “board game collection.” It just means all the board games someone owns.

A board game library sounds cooler than a board game collection though.

How Many Games Does Someone Need To Have a Library?

To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about this question until I started writing this article, but now that I’m writing it, this question is interesting to me. It’s kind of like those commercials for tootsie roll pops that would ask how many licks does it take to get to the center?

Kind of.

Technically speaking, you would only need one game to have a collection or library, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable calling one game a collection or library. After all, how many times do you walk into a library that only has one book?

That would be a pretty exciting library though, and hopefully a really good book.

To have a library, I’d say you need to have at least enough games to fill three shelves of a bookshelf. I say this because the smallest bookshelf I can think of has three shelves, and if you’re filling up a bookshelf, then you’ve got yourself a library.

After all, Little Free Libraries are smaller than that! Fun fact, I started one of those in an old apartment complex I used to live in. Sadly, the management of the complex was kind of rude about getting it all put together, but at least it’s there.

If you were to call your board games a collection, I’d say you need enough to fill up one shelf. I don’t know why I’m making that distinction, but words have feelings attached to them (hello connotation), and that’s the way the words “collection” and “library” feel to me.

Do Board Game Libraries Need To Be Put On Shelves?

No, they don’t, but that would make it feel more official.

Do Board Gamers Need To Have A Board Game Library?

Not at all. Own as many or as few games as you want. It’s your money and your life so spend it how you wish!

Did You Know?

(Each time you refresh the page you will get a new “Did You Know” fact!)

Did you know playing Clue is actually really easy? I provided my interpretation of the rules in this article.

In Conclusion

So, this article took a few interesting turns, but that’s the fun of writing these articles sometimes. Regardless, now you know what a board game library is. Have fun with your own!

If you already have a library or decide to build one, let me know what games are in it and why in the comments below. Thanks!

And, as always, keep on gaming, fellow board gamers.