The ancient Chinese game of mahjong — or at least, the modern incarnation of American mah jongg — is having a moment, and it’s on full display at the Wilton Library every Monday afternoon.
Caryn Friedman-Quinn, the Library’s adult programming associate, says the mah jongg trend was on the Library’s radar, but a couple of Library patrons were instrumental in getting a new program off the ground.
“We were aware that mah jongg has just exploded over the past year or so — so we were aware of the interest,” Friedman-Quinn said. “And then two patrons of ours asked if we would consider having either an open mahjong play or lessons… so we realized that this was the right time to get involved.”
American mah jongg is an endlessly fascinating game similar to card games but played with tiles, which players draw and discard as they work toward a winning hand. The game also features an annual card listing the year’s permissible winning combinations — meaning even experienced players have to adapt their game from year to year.
Adding to the intrigue, mah jongg comes with its own vocabulary, traditions and variations. Even the name can be spelled several ways — GMW is using the National Mah Jongg League’s spelling for the American version played at the Library.
Open Play
Rather than create a program exclusively for mah jongg, the Library decided to create the “Open Play Game Room” — a weekly event welcoming players of mah jongg as well as canasta, chess, backgammon and other card and tabletop games.
“We wanted to be more inclusive,” Friedman-Quinn said.
It’s consistent with the Library’s broader mission to “enrich, connect and inspire our community.”
“Getting people to come out of their homes and meet new people and join with others is something that the library is very interested in doing,” Friedman-Quinn said. “That’s part of our mission.”
So far, mah jongg has been the main draw during Open Play, with players typically filling five or six tables each week. The sessions have attracted experienced players as well as several novices. (However, the Library has indicated the sessions are not for true beginners. No instruction is offered, so at least some experience is needed to join a mah jongg table.)
Friedman-Quinn has observed the more experienced players are often willing to help the newcomers.
“I’ve seen a person lean over to the next person and say, oh, why don’t you try this or how do we do that,” Friedman-Quinn said. “They’re very willing to help each other along.”
Overall, Friedman-Quinn describes the atmosphere as welcoming and genial. Some players arrive with a friend or with a group already organized, while others show up on their own and join in.
“Everybody’s been very welcoming,” she said. “I watch the way they introduce themselves. At first it’s a little tentative — you’re joining a new group — but before long, everybody is chatting, the noise is growing in the room, people are laughing.”
Friedman-Quinn seemed particularly pleased with that dynamic and how it is fostering connections in the community.
“Well, first of all, the library is a safe space for all,” she said. “This is something where you just never know whom you’re going to meet, what their background is, what their interests are, and it’s very interesting to watch people meet one another and start to bond over something that they’re doing and what they have in common.”
Room at the Table
At least for now, there is still room for more players. Friedman-Quinn said the Library has one or two additional tables that could be added to the five or six already in play each week.
She is hopeful some men will join the women who have become regulars, whether for mah jongg or other games. She reported that several men have made inquiries.
“I’ve told them and tried to encourage them to bring some of their friends, and come play whatever they like to play,” she said, noting that “no betting” was the main parameter.
Friedman-Quinn estimated that participants spanned a wide age range, though perhaps not under the age of 40. She attributed that to the fact that younger age segments are likely to be working on Monday afternoons when the sessions are held — not because they aren’t interested in getting on the mah jongg bandwagon.
“If we had a call for an evening game, I think we would consider it,” Friedman-Quinn said, cautioning that space and scheduling could be a challenge because most of the Library’s adult programming already takes place in the evening.
She said the Library is actively trying to develop programming aimed at “young professionals” in their twenties or thirties.
“We’re trying to be as inclusive as possible in our programming,” she said. “We’re always looking to see, is there a demographic that we’re not reaching? That’s very important for the Library as a whole.”
For the mah jongg players who have found their way to Open Play, the game room setting itself has become part of the appeal. The “room” is the Brubeck Room, a beautifully bright space with the drapes open in the summer. Some players have also moved outside to the Library’s newly renovated courtyard, where tables and chairs are easily arranged.
Friedman-Quinn said the feedback from players has been consistently positive.
“I’ve gotten so many positive comments from them,” she said. “I can tell [they’re happy] because I see familiar faces each week. I know that if they weren’t happy, they wouldn’t be coming back.”
As summer ends and fall ushers in people returning from vacations, Friedman-Quinn won’t be surprised if demand for Open Play grows.
“I think it’s going to be a keeper,” she said.
For more information, visit the Wilton Library website. The Open Play Game Room takes place Mondays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Mah jongg teams form promptly at 1 p.m. The program is free.
