April 16, 2024

Can you escape?

Newton Public Library offering digital escape room

By Dustin Teays

Contestants pose for a photo after completing the Harry Potter themed escape room at the Newton Public Library. The library has added a digital escape room for people to do during the coronavirus pandemic. It can be found on the NPL website and Facebook page. (Submitted Photo)

The Newton Public Library is working to keep the community engaged whether through online reading or posting videos to its Facebook page. Now patrons can enjoy one of the library's most popular programs digitally — an escape room.

Like the live version, the digital escape room takes you through puzzles and challenges. The only difference is, it is played online. The digital escape room is available on both the library's Facebook and website.

"This is a game that I made myself," public services librarian Becca Klein said.

For the first digital escape room, Klein said the theme is Escape from the Library. For this, Klein took pictures of different places and scenes from inside NPL and created puzzles based on the building.

"We still feel that connecting with the community is just as important as ever," Klein said.

This program is the first of its kind from NPL and Klein said she is hoping to get feedback to help drive the potential for future programs. The escape room has been active for almost a week and Klein has noted an unexpected aspect has come from the digital venue.

"We are finding some people from out of state are finding the game as well and participating in it," Klein said.

As of now, Klein isn't 100 percent sure if another digital escape room will be developed but it is definitely a possibility. While an in-person escape room can't be done due to the coronavirus pandemic, people can still have fun from home.

"I just hope that this is an opportunity for people to learn and be entertained and also participate in something from the safety and comfort of their own home," Klein said.

The room is free for people to try and Klein said it will have people doing activities like puzzles and timed areas throughout. The digital escape room is a great diversion from working, studying or any of the other events going on in the world.

"It's a great way to take a break from work or study if your stuck working from home. So it is a fun little diversion and a way to still interact with your library even though you can't come inside the building at the moment," Klein said.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com