Utah State University Libraries Hosts Successful Grand Opening of Playing Religion Exhibit

LOGAN, Utah — Utah State University Libraries hosted a grand opening and gallery talk for its new exhibit, Playing Religion, on Jan 21.

The event, which drew a crowd of 70 attendees, provided a unique exploration into the role of board games in the prominent culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The hourlong event featured insightful commentary by Professors Rebecca Bayeck from USU’s Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences and Patrick Mason from the departments of History & Religious Studies. Attendees had hands-on fun with demo board games, which are also available for interaction within the exhibit.

Following the event, Jennifer Duncan, Dean of Libraries said, "The collaboration between Dr. Mason and Dr. Bayeck and their graduate students was an impressive demonstration interdisciplinarity, demonstrating that games can offer a unique lens into our understanding of cultural history. They provide a playful yet profound way to explore narratives, values, and societal shifts that we document through the surprising array of sources preserved in USU's Special Collections & Archives.”

The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on display in the main atrium of the Merrill-Cazier library until March 15.