A Roll of the Dice: Starting a D&D Program at Your Library

Bring Dungeons & Dragons to your library and unlock an epic teen program! Learn how to start, what gameplay looks like, and key resources for success. From dice rolling to world-building, this class will guide you in creating an engaging D&D experience teens will love.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what Dungeons & Dragons is and how it supports literacy, creativity, and community 
• Building in a library setting. 
• Learn the basic tools and techniques for running a D&D session, including gameplay mechanics, player roles, and session planning. 
• Discover practical strategies and resources for launching, promoting, and sustaining a successful teen D&D program at your library.

Presenters:

Matthew Dieckman is the Assistant Branch Manager at Acacia Library in Sunnyslope, where he has served in various roles during his nearly 10 years with the Phoenix Public Library system. A passionate advocate for teen engagement, Matthew has supervised teen volunteers, led workforce readiness classes, and brought creativity to storytimes and outreach. As a lifelong storyteller and Dungeon Master, he launched a successful Dungeons & Dragons program at his library, using gameplay to foster literacy, collaboration, and community. He believes libraries are natural homes for imagination—and that D&D is one of the best tools to bring it to life.

Brian Frederick has been with the Phoenix Public Library for nearly 10 years, beginning his library career in the sort room of the South Mountain Community Library shortly after graduating from Arizona State University and working his way up to his current role as the Circulation Supervisor for the Mesquite Library. He is a strong believer in the role libraries play as a free and accessible source of information and community. Outside of the library he is an avid fan of Dungeons & Dragons (both as a player and Dungeon Master) and an advocate for engaging with roleplaying games as a uniquely multifaceted creative exercise.