Come one, come all to Books & Dragons: A special event celebrating all things fantasy, dragons, table-top role-playing games, and, of course, books! Don your best costume and join us to create your own “potion,” traverse the library to find treasure, and fight the dragon to save the library. Plus, enjoy opportunities to learn more about or play Dungeons & Dragons. From the novice to the experienced, all ages and abilities are welcome.

Thank you to Mr. Fun’s Costume & Curiosity Emporium for supplying library staff’s medieval garb!

Activities

**Some activities will require a ticket. Pick up tickets at the Town Crier’s Information Table (located on the library’s lower level) on the day of the event. All activities and presentations are free!

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Encounter-based Scavenger Hunt | Library-Wide
11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Design a 3D Miniature Character | Computer Lab**
11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Alchemy Class with the Graefe Room Sorceress**
11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Button Making | MakerSpace
12 – 4 p.m. DnD One-Off Games begin at 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., & 3 p.m. | Sutliff Room**
12 – 1 p.m. “Monsters in Medieval Europe” by Dr. Lindsay Starkey of Kent State University | Chambers Room
3 – 4 p.m. “J.R.R. Tolkien, Fantasy, and Dragons ” by Dr. Ann M. Martinez of Kent State University | Chambers Room
Anytime – Sew a Dice Bag (MakerSpace), “Potion” Craft (Graefe Room), and Mask Making (MakerSpace)

Prizes

Pathfinder Kit, Dice, Gift Cards & more!

Presentations (held in the Chambers Room):

12 – 1 p.m. “Monsters in Medieval Europe” by Dr. Lindsay Starkey of Kent State University

After defining what monsters are, this talk explores the ancient and early Christian roots of medieval European monsters. It also examines how medieval Europeans turned people of other religions and ethnicities into monsters, making these people easier to hate, exploit, and harm.

3 – 4 p.m. “J.R.R. Tolkien, Fantasy, and Dragons ” by Dr. Ann M. Martinez of Kent State University

J.R.R. Tolkien helped shape the world of fantasy by crafting the stories of Middle-Earth. He populated these stories with heroes, villains, and wonderous monsters. Of his many contributions, dragons are particularly key. This presentation will review the dragons that came before Tolkien, those that inspired him, those created by him, and the fantasy world that has followed.