Libraries seeking teams of digital builders and gamers

Mackay Regional Council Libraries are recruiting teams now to vie for the prestigious, LED-encrusted champion’s belt.

Community and Client Services acting director Stephen Bourke said eight teams were required and must have a minimum of two and maximum of four members aged 13 years or older.

“Teams must attend at least one practice session at the Gordon White Library Innovation Hub on Monday, June 27; Wednesday, June 29 or Friday, July 1, from 10am to noon or 2pm to 4pm,” Mr Bourke said.

“Then the competition will take place between Monday, July 4 and Wednesday, July 6,” he said. “With winners to be announced on Friday, July 8.

“To compete, the team simply makes an appointment, comes into Gordon White Library and then has two hours to build a Minecraft creation worthy of taking out ‘the belt’.”

Mayor Greg Williamson congratulated the Libraries team on being at the forefront of technological innovation.

“Gordon White Library is constantly evolving,” Mayor Williamson said.

“The innovation hub is a flexible space in the library that provides access to some of the latest technological innovations,” he said.

“They’ve got a gaming pod, a podcast studio with sound booth, a suite of robots and, importantly, they can provide coaches and equipment to help teams to take part in this Queensland-wide tournament.

“The days of libraries being just a place to borrow books are long gone!”

Gordon White Library can provide two laptops per team complete with Minecraft accounts. Teams are welcome to bring their own devices, but they must have their own Minecraft account for these devices.

To register your interest, head to the website. Once registered, teams will be contacted to arrange the booking of their practise and tournaments sessions.

The Queensland Minecraft Cup in an initiative of STEMPunks and the Queensland Public Library Association.

What is Minecraft
Minecraft the best-selling video game of all time, with more than 230 million copies sold. The game world is composed of rough 3D objects, called "blocks" that represent various materials, such as dirt, stone, ores, tree trunks, water and lava. The core gameplay revolves around picking up and placing these objects. These blocks are arranged in a 3D grid and players can move freely around the world. Players can "mine" blocks and then place them elsewhere, enabling them to build things.