That time has come when the holiday party is upon us. Do you want another weak year of everyone standing around, talking about work and staring at each other? Is the DJ just Brenda from reference putting together her greatest Celine Deon hits collection together? Forget all that and break out some party games to spice up the atmosphere.
Just remember not to eat the ornaments.
Here are six games guaranteed to have people still talking after the new year:
1. Dirty SantaThe oldies still work. This easy to play game takes just a wee bit of preparation and participation from the staff, but is sure to lead to loads of fun. The gist is simple: everybody brings a wrapped gift of low value and places them in a pile. Everyone takes a number, one to however many people there are. The person with number one chooses a gift and unwraps it. Then number two can choose to steal number one's gift or choose a new present. If the gift is stolen, the person it was stolen from picks a new, unwrapped gift. The game continues, the next person in line stealing any previous opened present or choosing an unopened present. When everyone has chosen or stolen, the first person in line gets to choose either to steal from anyone or keep his or her choice. Beware: Game may lead to hurt feelings and possibly an old lady hitting you with a cane when you "steal" her waffle iron.
2. Bobbing for BestsellersThis game is an old classic with a library twist. New books not in circulation and old discarded books are piled in a bin. The trick is to reach in blind-folded with one hand and pull out one of the new books.
Think less apples and water, more books.
Everyone gets three turns, with prizes awarded to fit the pulls: 3 new books is a good prize, 2 new books is an okay prize, 1 is a not so good prize, and 0 is no prize. Beware: Know that you are giving participants potentially heavy and lethal weapons when things do not go their way.
3. Pin the Bookmark on the AdministratorPBA is pretty simple, especially if you have an admin staff that can take some beatings. Set up is pretty easy, just get a large picture of an administrator, put a tack in a book mark, designate where on the administrator the mark should go. Playing is also easy: Blindfold the participant, give him/her the bookmark, spin them around a few times, aim them and let them go. Whoever gets closest wins. Bonus if you can somehow get a real admin to stand in without resorting to wimpy velcro or stick tape. Beware: Game may lead to admin retaliation in the New Year in the form of loss or gain of hours, public service time, etc.
Think long and hard about that "overtime" you asked for.
4. Spin the Book CartFor those more with a more "frisky" library setting, here is spin the book cart. All you need is a decent amount of alcohol, a book cart, and some librarians who like smoochin. Everyone stands in a circle, the book cart is spun, and whomever the cart points to has to kiss the person who spun it. Bring chapstick. Beware: Game may lead to unwanted feelings displayed, especially by Betty in circulation, and the spread of cold sores as well as mono.
Spreading love and VD for 30 years...
5. 7 Minutes in the StacksAfter all that alcohol, Betty from circulation is starting to look pretty hot, eh? Time to break out 7 Minutes in the Stacks. Using the same setup from Spin the Book Cart, players instead of kissing have to disappear into the dark stacks for five minutes. Whatever happens in the stacks, stays in the stacks. After 7 minutes are up, the rest of the staff that cares comes and finds what you are doing. Beware: Betty is a tiger. Rar!
Somewhere down there is a recipe for love... lets find it together.
6. Library Fight ClubThe time for f*&king around is over. The alcohol is gone, Betty is no more fun, and God help you, Brenda from reference is starting to look good. The time has come to get out some aggression. Here are the rules for Library Fight Club:
a. Only talk in Library Fight Club.
b. Only TALK in Library Fight Club.
c. If someone cries, or bows their head, the fight is over.
d. Two staff members to a fight.
e. Dear God keep your shirt and shoes on.
f. Fights will go on as long as they have to.
g. If this is your first night at Library Fight Club, we can talk about it.
Let's get it on!
Imagesparty pic hereapple pic hereold lady pic heredonkey pic herebook cart heredude pic here
What do you think of when I say the word "Halloween?" Ghosts and goblins, spirits galore, witches on broom sailing over full moon skies? What if I told you you could think of all of that and books? 
