Presentation on how to hold a lan party at your local public library and how we do it at the Westhampton Free Library

1. Hosting a Lan Party
By Dave Jones & Walter Pesce
Thursday, October 1 2015

2. What is a Lan
Party?

3. "Winter 2004 DreamHack LAN Party" by en:User:Toffelginkgo / User:Toffelginkgo -
en:User:Toffelginkgo / User:Toffelginkgo. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via
Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Winter_2004_DreamHack_LAN_Party.jpg#/media/File:
Winter_2004_DreamHack_LAN_Party.jpg
Wikipedia Defines A LAN Party As...
A gathering of people with computers or compatible game
consoles, between which they establish a local area network
(LAN), primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer video
games. The size of these networks may vary from the very small
(two people) to very large installations of hundreds or more.
Small parties can form spontaneously, but large ones usually
require a fair amount of planning and preparation. As of 2013,
the world record for the size of a LAN party is 17,403 connected
systems, set at DreamHack, in Jönköping, Sweden.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(software)

4. Why Host A Lan Party?
1. Great program for older teens & college students.
a. These tend to be a very hard to reach demographic.
2. Adds a social aspect to playing video games.
a. It’s more fun playing video games with a bunch of friends than home alone.
3. It places the burden on the participants providing the hardware and software
for the program rather than the library.
a. Many libraries do not have the budget to purchase the video games or even the necessary
hardware needed to play those games at the library.
b. Can be a possible solution for libraries that want to provide gaming programs at the library,
but do not have the funds.

5. Software / Games
Steam is an Internet-based digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation.
1. Considered the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming
2. It offers digital rights management (DRM), multiplayer, and social networking.
3. Steam provides the user with installation and automatic updating of games on multiple computers,
and community features such as friends lists and groups, cloud saving, and in-game voice and chat
functionality.
4. Client is available for use on Windows, OS X and Linux operating systems.
5. As of September 2015, over 6,400 games are available through Steam, including over 2,300 for OS
X and 1,500 for Linux.
6. The service has over 125 million active users. Steam has had as many as 10 million concurrent
users as of June 2015.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(software)

6. Popular PC Games

7. Popular Console Games

8. Get Your IT Dept. Involved for They Know Your Library’s Network!
Planning On Hosting A
Lan Party?
What Do You Do First?

9. Equipment
Important Items That You Need!
1. Internet Connection
2. Network Switch(s)
a. Depending on Number of Participants
3. Router (Wireless)
a. Allows People Using WiFi to Connect to
the Lan
4. Cat5e /Cat6 Cables
a. Various Lengths
5. Lots of Power Strips & Extension Cords!
a. You may need to map out which outlets
are on the same breaker.
b. Know where your circuit breaker box is
in the event you pop a breaker!
6. Vast Supplies of Junk Food &
Caffeinated Beverages!
7. Don’t Forget Tables & Chairs!

10. 1. Think ahead to the maximum number of people you can support.
2. Make sure you have all of the necessary equipment!
3. Before the event ask everyone to list their computer type (Desktop? Laptop?
Liquid-cooled PC megalith?), OS & what games they may want to play.
a. Try to use a Google Form to survey your attendees about what games they own, what they
want to play, and what they’re bringing.
b. This will give you an idea of the games they may play and give you a chance to download most
of the patches / updates before the event.
4. Promote your event!
a. Library newsletter, school’s technology department.
b. Create a Steam Community Group.
Steps To Organize Your Lan Party

11. How The
Westhampton Free
Library Host Its Lan
Party Program

12. Four times a year in conjunction
with local high school.
2nd Saturday
Each Month
1:00pm - Midnight

13. Promoting Your Program

18. Useful Links
1. Wikipedia Lan Party Article
a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAN_party
2. Valve Steam
a. http://store.steampowered.com/
3. How to Host a Lan Party by Wikihow
a. http://www.wikihow.com/Host-a-LAN-Party
4. The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up an Awesome Lan Party by Makeuseof
a. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-ultimate-guide-to-setting-up-an-awesome-lan-party/
5. How to Run Your Own Lan Party by Techhive
a. http://www.techhive.com/article/257316/how_to_run_your_own_lan_party.html
6. Lan Party List
a. http://lanpartylist.com/

19. When your program has Completed
Finally

20. Leave Plenty Of Time At The End For The Cleanup!