At Newton Public Library, you can check out books, DVDs, STEM activity kits, WiFi hotspots… and now, board games.

Thanks to a grant from the South Central Kansas Library System, the library has added a collection of 40 circulating board games for preschoolers through adults. Collection development librarian Stefanie Knopp is planning to add more over time.

“This is just a starter collection,” Knopp said. “I tried to include some of the classics, like ‘Monopoly,’ ‘Sorry,’ and ‘Taboo.’ We also had some board games on hand that we had been using for youth programming, and we decided to go ahead and put them into circulation as well.”

The library welcomes suggestions of additional board game to purchase. Donations of games in good condition are also appreciated.

“I knew there were plenty of other libraries that had board games, and then the pandemic really brought home that we should do this,” Knopp said. “People aren’t coming into the library for in-person programming right now, and to meet the recreational and educational needs of our community, this is something we can do.”

Board games must be checked out on an adult’s library card. They can be borrowed two at a time, with seven-day checkouts. Click on the links below to go directly to the online catalog page for each board game, where you can put the game on hold. You can also stop by, call 316-283-2890, or email library@newtonplks.org to request board games.

Games for ages 6 through adults: Double Bananagrams, Settlers of Catan, Cauldron Quest, chess, checkers, backgammon, Codenames, Connect4, Cranium, Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set, Escape Room: The Game, Monopoly, Pictureka, Q-Bitz Extreme, Racko, Risk, Scrabble, Sequence, Spot It!, Taboo, Farkel Party, Sorry!, Qwirkle, Rummikub, Boggle, The Oregon Trail Card Game, Star Wars Destiny, Power Grid Deluxe, Super Motherload.

Games for all ages: Blue-Plate Scramble, Candy Land, Feed the Woozle, Hoot Owl Hoot, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Lemonade Shake Up, Q-Bitz Junior, Race to the Treasure, Yahtzee, Cat in the Hat Game, Green Eggs and Ham Game, Hungry Hungry Hippos.