Library escape planned

ESCAPE ROOM: Wattle Range librarian and escape room coordinator Carmel Tomlinson organises clues ahead of the library's inaugural escape room activity session.
ESCAPE ROOM: Wattle Range librarian and escape room coordinator Carmel Tomlinson organises clues ahead of the library’s inaugural escape room activity session.

THE Millicent Library will go into lock down next week as children and adults put their thinking caps on for the first escape room session.

The ancient Egyptian-themed session will see participants use their visual and spatial skills to escape the fictional tomb they have fallen into.

Teams of between four to six people will take on the role of an explorer following in the footsteps of their “great-grandfather” who discovered the remains of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen.

After falling into an abandoned tomb, players must solve a series of puzzles using clues, hints and strategy to escape the underground vault.

Wattle Range Libraries manager Janice Nitschke encouraged players to participate in the immersive experience.

“The escape room is somewhere between a game and team-building exercise and they are very popular across the world,” she said.

“It provides players with an exciting experience that you would normally find in metropolitan areas.”

Inspired by escape-the-room style video games, escape rooms are a form of reality entertainment where players are put in a room and complete puzzles in order to escape.

Ms Nitschke said players needed to use a variety of skills to escape the room within the hour time limit.

“The escape room encourages teamwork because players need to work together to get out in the time frame,” she said.

“Not only do you gain an understanding of ancient Egyptian culture, the puzzles incorporate mathematical and visual elements.

“Much of the youth of today learn not only from reading and writing, but also from interactive activities and this is a great way to incorporate all of the different learning styles.

“This activity aligns with Wattle Range Council’s philosophy of being a learning community and the library community supporting that learning in an interactive way.”

The escape room sessions will be held each weekday of the public holidays except Monday from 1pm.