Assorted dice for playing Dungeons and Dragons; photo by Joe Cerwinske

Through pencil, paper, and some imagination, the Kalona Public Library is transporting area kids to a world of swords, magic, and fantasy. Earlier this year, the library had the idea to form a youth Dungeons and Dragons group. Dungeons and Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game where players navigate various scenarios, challenges, and battles using self-created characters and a set of dice. According to Youth Services Librarian Shawna Riggins, the group is still relatively small, but she’s hoping word will spread and more people will give it a try.

The group is led by her husband, Dustin, who serves as “Dungeon Master” for the game. She says newcomers are always welcome to attend the monthly session to see if they enjoy it. She explains, “It’s an ongoing campaign, but he (Dustin) can write in any people if they want to join in at a later date very easily. And if they can only come once, and it’s not for them, that’s okay. It’s low commitment.” The youth Dungeons and Dragons group meets the last Monday of every month, though in December they’re meeting on Monday the 19th due to Christmas. The game is appropriate and accessible for kids aged 10 and older.