Collection Statistics

Even though TRPGs are beneficial to both players and libraries, very few libraries carry TRPG materials.

Roughly nine out of ten libraries do not carry TRPG materials in their circulating collection. If a library does carry TRPG materials, the most dominant title is Dungeons & Dragons. Let's have a look at some of the statistics:

• 43.6% of titles circulating in libraries were published by Wizards of the Coast/TSR, the publishers of Dungeons & Dragons.

• 56.3% of titles were published by 27 different publishers.

With this in mind, one must wonder why libraries don't carry TRPG materials in their circulating collections. One of the possible reasons for is due to theft. Some researchers agree with this statement and some believe it to be a myth. Reasons why theft may occur include:

• People steal RPG books to add to their own collection, either because of the expense of purchasing their own materials is cost prohibitive or that some circulating materials belong to previous editions of game systems that are out-of-print.

• Some concerned patrons may remove materials from the collection in an effort to protect others, generally children and teens, from being corrupted by themes present in the material.