RPGs in libraries in Brazil

[W.J.]

(I've reposted this here from my website, The Escapist. The original
post is here - http://www.theescapist.com/blog/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=5&postId=90
)

Today, I posted an update on the Escapist Twitter account about
National Gaming Day @ Your Library. This prompted a gentleman named
Marcelo to contact me, asking for advice about promoting the RPGs in
libraries concept in Brazil.

Since that's a subject that requires much more than 140 characters to
discuss, I asked if he would take it to email. Here's the message that
he sent:


Greetings,

As a roleplayer, RPG author and Psychologist (who defended a paper
regarding the similarities between RPG characters and their player),
I've been intrigued about the seemingly success of your endeavor of
playing RPGs at libraries.

Here in Brazil the public libraries are not that accessible. I
don't know if it's a matter of public policy, or if it's the bad ideas
the media ensures about roleplaying games in general (one state forbid
selling RPGs for a while based on the premisse "RPG leads to
murder)...

But I'll have the chance of taking part in a librarian conference
in the next weeks, and I may even talk face to face with my city's
Secretary of Education. How should I adress the "RPG in libraries"
matter? Any tips regarding that?

Warmest regards,
Marcelo



I've responded already with a few simple ideas - brush up on your RPG
defense and myth debunking, grab some resources and positive studies
from the RPG Studies site, and make a list of the benefits of playing
RPGs.

I'd really like to give him some more input. What else should he
consider? How else should he prepare himself? What sort of approach
should he take?

We're interested in hearing from everyone, but I also know that I have
more than a few readers from Brazil out there - do any of you have any
experience with the library system in Brazil, and know the best way to
approach this? Have you run RPGs in libraries before, and if so, could
Marcelo use you as a possible reference?

This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in a part of the
world that has long appreciated the roleplaying hobby. Please post
your ideas in comments, or email them to me, and I'll pass them along.