Squires Library to host Family Feud game night
“Libraries in general used to have the reputation of ‘You can’t talk. You can’t eat. You can’t have fun.’ Here at our library, we do all those things,” Assistant Director of Library Services Lori Mattace said of the Lee-run game show. “We’re just trying to show that this is a place to relax and have fun.”
Photo by John David Clark, Photography Editor
Two teams. Five members each. Lots of applause. The show that will put their common knowledge to the test.
For the first time, a Lee rendition of the hit game show Family Feud will take place at Squires Library in January of 2019. Family Feud challenges contestants to name the top responses to survey questions for a cash prize, and Squires Library is putting a college-themed spin on the popular show.
Assistant Director of Library Services Lori Mattace said she hopes the event will make students more comfortable at the library.
“Libraries in general used to have the reputation of ‘You can’t talk. You can’t eat. You can’t have fun.’ Here at our library, we do all those things,” Mattace said. “We’re just trying to show that this is a place to relax and have fun.”
Squires Library hosts a game night at the beginning of every semester. The game nights are geared towards helping new students meet people on campus.
Library Coordinator for Distance Learning Julie Burchfield said she found the spring semester game night was less attended.
“The attendance wasn’t as good for January, so we wanted to spice it up a little bit and do something more fun that would draw people in,” Burchfield said. “We want people to get comfortable with being at the library and asking us questions. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than a senior saying, ‘I’ve never been to the library.’”
As a junior nursing major, Julia Close said she understands the need for a quality study area where students feel comfortable.
“I love the couches, and it’s a good study environment,” Close said. “And the staff is really friendly.”
Burchfield and Mattace said they picked Family Feud for the upcoming game night because it’s a game show staple that’s been on the air for years. From there, it was just a matter of getting the right questions.
“Once we decided what we were going to do, we just did some research,” Mattace said. “First, we had to come up with questions. We looked into questions that would be applicable to college students, and we put a Lee spin on them.”
The library sent out survey questions for students to fill out through the weekly newsletter. Students answered questions, such as, “What is the first thought of a college student in the morning?” and “Name a professor who is most likely to wear a bow tie.”
Burchfield explained the most essential part of the game night will be getting students involved.
“The main part of set-up is getting the participation,” Burchfield said.
Once all the survey responses are recorded, the final step will be creating teams to compete. While Family Feud usually has two families compete against each other, Squires will have eight teams of five composed of any mix of students and faculty.
“If I were to compete on a team, my friends from my freshman hall would be really fun—or my club, SLC,” Close said.
Mattace said any team composed of Lee students is welcome. A prize for the winners is still under discussion, according to library staff. As for the host, the library staff is still looking for someone to try to fill Steve Harvey’s energetic shoes.
Organizers are hoping the event will convince students to come to more game nights in the future.
“The goal is to get more people to come to game night,” Mattace said. “It will be a success if people participate and enjoy themselves.”
Family Feud will take place on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. on the main floor of the Squires Library. To register a team, fill out the library's form online.
