Community game nights are a chance to foster relationships, learn a new skill and have a grand time in the process.

Since early May, Orcas Island Library has hosted an evening of board game merriment every Tuesday in the community room from 6 to 9 p.m. The inaugural event drew nearly 40 people and since then there has been a consistent group of families who partake each week. Systems librarian Woody Ciskowski was inspired to launch the endeavor after beginning his new job in the spring.

“I wanted to start a program and meet people and most of the way I’ve made new friends is through board games,” said Ciskowski, who grew up on Orcas and recently moved back after living in Bellingham for 15 years.

The program’s most popular offerings are chess and a game called Cascadia, which involves building a Northwest ecosystem. While it’s mostly been families who have attended, there are activities for all ages — from young kids to adults.

“I have been impressed with people’s willingness to dive in and try to learn games that they might not have tried before and welcome new people to play with them. And some of the younger kids pick up fairly complicated games quickly,” Ciskowski said. “Between the games that I bring and what the library owns, we have a huge variety. We have a game that is going to be right for you, and if you have a game you want to bring, there will be someone who wants to play it with you. I am there to facilitate that.”

He plans for the program to be year-round and is pleased with the turnout thus far.

“I hope it continues to grow and we have a regular group of folks who meet up and make connections with people,” Ciskowski said. “There are a ton of interesting board games out here. If the last game you played was ‘Shoots and Ladders,’ there are thousands out there that will be a lot more interesting!”