In September we launched our third national cohort of libraries and towns using Hive Mechanic, as part of our IMLS grant for “Engaging Beyond Our Walls.” In this round, 15 new cities or towns joined in — from Sweet Home, Oregon, to Rockingham, Vermont.

For the first time, the training is through a self-paced course, rather than weekly Zoom training. It takes about six weeks to complete the course, assuming about an hour a week of training videos and instruction on developing your town’s project.

Here’s a cumulative map of all cities and towns participating over the past two years – with a total of 59 participating locations:

Logos from participating libraries include:

Check back this spring and summer for photographs of early playtests, and emerging models for what libraries can build. Meanwhile, our research continues into how libraries can become “nodes” for community storytelling, and how we can democratize the design process so that ordinary people and community groups can directly make their own interactive stories and outdoor games.

Locations for our fall 2023 cohort:

CA

The San Leandro History Museum

ID

Prairie River Library District, Lapwai Branch

IN

Bartholomew County Public Library

IO

North Liberty Library

KY

Spencer County Public Library

MN

Arrowhead Library System – Bookmobile

NY

Lake Pleasant Public Library

OR

Sweet Home Public Library

SD

Brookings Public Library

WI

Winchester Public Library

VT

Rockingham Library