Bringing the Iaconelli Gaming Lounge to life at the A.C. Buehler Library

The RAILS My Library Is... Grant provided the crucial financial resources necessary to bring our vision to life.  Our plan, initially called the “Ready Player One” Lounge, was to create a visible, public gaming venue that would serve as an ongoing draw for student veterans at the library and facilitate their social time with the wider student body. This would also promote more library space usage for both groups.  

The grant funded the purchase of two state-of-the-art gaming consoles, a diverse selection of popular and engaging video games spanning various genres, and comfortable, functional furniture to create an inviting and accessible space. The chosen location for the Gaming Lounge was a library classroom that had historically experienced low usage after 5:00 PM and on weekends. This repurposing of existing space efficiently utilized existing library resources in a cost-effective manner. 

Since its grand opening on September 19, 2024, the Tony Iaconelli Gaming Lounge (named after the founder of the Student Veterans association at Elmhurst University) has demonstrably achieved its objectives. The library has tracked the room's usage, revealing significant student traffic and consistent engagement. More importantly, the lounge has successfully facilitated interaction between student veterans and the student body, creating organic opportunities for connection and friendship. This success was further amplified through a collaborative event on February 13, 2025, when the campus eSports team partnered with the student veterans to host a joint gaming tournament in the lounge. This event showcased the potential for synergy between different student groups and highlighted the library's role as a central hub for diverse campus communities. 

Looking ahead, the A.C. Buehler Library is committed to the continued growth and enhancement of the Iaconelli Gaming Lounge. Recognizing the positive impact and popularity of the space, the veterans club plans to invest its own funds to expand the lounge's offerings during the upcoming summer. This commitment underscores the library's dedication to meeting the evolving needs and interests of its student population and solidifying the gaming lounge as a valuable and integral part of the campus experience. The successful implementation of the Iaconelli Gaming Lounge, made possible by the RAILS My Library Is... Grant, serves as a compelling example of how libraries can creatively adapt their existing spaces and provide unique services to foster community, engagement, and a stronger sense of belonging among their users. 

This week’s blog post was written by Jacob Hill, Librarian, Elmhurst University. 

This project was made possible by the My Library Is... Grant.