Hi there, 

I'm a librarian who has been working on developing an analog game collection. We have started considering whether we would like to collect itch games (ttrpgs, primarily) but are running into multiple questions. I just wanted to ask around for people's opinions, especially from those who are game creators and publishers.

How would you feel about your game being part of a library collection? Would you object to your game potentially making it into "long term" storage, such as an archive?

Do you think there should be restrictions on how material is downloaded and/or shared? Should libraries only distribute printed copies of games, rather than the pdfs?

Should libraries ask for permission from creators and let them know how they plan to distribute in advance?

Should libraries pay a different amount, based on anticipated higher use and institutional privilege?

Does the kind of library doing the collecting- university vs public vs school- matter to creators?

These are just some of the ethical issues we have started discussing. I'm very curious about what those outside of the library field have to say. 

Thanks!

All my RPG books (and other materials) are under open licenses. Even if they weren't, being in a public library would at least mean that someone might read them for a change. In my opinion it's still nice to at least let people know you've picked them up. All too often, creative writing feels like shouting into a void.

How is this normally handled for books? Can you download a book from a digital bookstore and print it out and have it available in your library just like that? Or have the files for users of that library?

Itch is self publishing, so actually there is no such thing as an Itch game. The developer simply chose to realease it on Itch. Maybe it is sold in other stores too. So, unless you have an explicit license known that allows things like putting it in a public library, asking for permission should be prudent and possibly legally required. Even for free games. Just because you can download it, does not mean you have rights to redistribute it or archive it.

Love that idea, great games should be stored that even when they become abadonware there will be some chance to still get tha game. But I think its should be for free.