The Beaumont Library is gearing up for an all-day celebration on Saturday, August 17, as it officially launches its long-awaited video game collection.
Kicking off at 11:30 a.m., the festivities start with the Mario Kart Grand Prix Tournament. Teams will race for glory and bragging rights in the popular Nintendo Switch game. Spectators are encouraged to cheer on their favorite teams and capture the fun with selfies at the video game-themed photo booth. Following the tournament, the program room will transform into a gaming hub where visitors can enjoy Switch games on the big screen and dive into creating their own 8-bit art.
The centerpiece of the afternoon will be the unveiling of the Library’s new video game collection. In celebration of the Library building’s 20th anniversary, the team has curated a diverse array of 500 titles, spanning Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox platforms. Library members can borrow up to five games at a time for two weeks. Library memberships are free for Beaumont and Leduc County residents.
Taryn Gauthier, Manager of Collections and Bibliographic Services, expressed enthusiasm about the new collection. “We visited surrounding libraries to understand their video game collections, which guided us in curating our own. We’re thrilled to introduce this exciting collection to our community.” Gauthier emphasized that the inclusion of video games aligns with the library’s mission to provide diverse forms of media and to engage all age groups through innovative programming.
Anyone interested in registering their team of four can call the library at 780-929-2665 (space is limited). With a day full of games, art, and celebrations, it’s set to be an event that gamers and families won’t want to miss.