Dozens and Dragons

Library Game

microgame for playing at the public library

2024-09-13

This is a game that I play every time I go to the library. Now you can play it too!

What: When you find yourself at the public library, choose a random three-digit dewey decimal number. Read it forwards and backwards so now you have two numbers. For each, go to that section of the stacks and find the book at, or nearest to, that number. Pick it up and look at it. Read the back. Read the table of contents. Skim the index. Skim the introduction. Either return it to the shelf, or check it out and take it home and read it.
How: Method 1: Roll 3 ten-sided dice. Either the tangible ones you keep in your pocket, or the digital ones you keep in your mobile pocket device.; Method 2: Look around you for any kind of printed writing. A sign, a poster, a warning, a flier, a label. Read it from the beginning, or backwards from the ending, or from a random spot of your choosing. Make special note of any letters occurring in the special phrase ACORN TILES. The appearance of each letter corresponds to the number of the letter in that phrase. For example, start reading from the beginning of this sentence. The phrase letters, in order of appearance, are O (second letter of For), R (third letter of For), and E (first letter of example). O is the 3rd letter of ACORN TILES, R is the 4th letter of ACORN TILES, and E is the 9th letter. (S, the 10th letter, stands for 0.) So your number is 349.