I geek movies, Italian food, making new friends and mystery novels. What do you geek? This is the question asked by the Geek the Library community awareness campaign.

If you haven’t heard about the campaign yet, here is your opportunity to find out more. This distinct awareness campaign—that focuses on highlighting the critical role public libraries play in every community and the continued need for sustained funding—is one fun way to help raise awareness about the amazing ways your library supports all the ‘geeking’ that goes on in your community. Many U.S. public libraries have signed up to implement the program locally, and positive results from the pilot campaign conducted with public libraries in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin are fueling momentum.

Geek the Library’s look and message are catchy and definitely grab people’s attention. A new OCLC membership report confirms this—there was impressive awareness of the campaign in surveyed pilot communities and high likeability. The best news is that Geek the Library doesn’t only get people’s attention; it also helps change people’s perceptions about public libraries and public library funding. According to the report, residents in pilot communities took positive steps to support their public libraries after being exposed to elements of the pilot campaign.

Geek the Library is an opportunity for public libraries to surprise their communities with an unexpected approach and connect with residents in a new way. The campaign encourages a personal connection to the library that leads to awareness and, hopefully, continued support. It also starts important local conversations. Essentially, it can help libraries develop community advocates who understand the value of the library, but also appreciate how funding works and recognize the need to keep it top-of-mind in community discussions.

Geek the Library certainly got the pilot communities talking about libraries and we can’t wait to see where the conversation goes in the new communities that are getting their geek on.

Curious if this could work in your area? Geek the Library is now freely available to any U.S. public library. Download the report and visit get.geekthelibrary.org for more information.

Created by OCLC and funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Geek the Library illustrates the fact that everyone is passionate about something—everyone “geeks” something—and that the public library supports it all. The campaign materials include advertising, collateral, a campaign Web site, social media and other online tools. The campaign message is bold and simple, and it focuses on the critical role that public libraries play in our communities while raising awareness of local library funding challenges.

OCLC piloted the campaign last year with nearly 100 libraries in many communities in southern Georgia and central Iowa, as well as libraries in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Geek the Library helped participants educate the public about the value of the library and library funding, and start important local funding conversations. The results of the pilot are encouraging. People noticed it and it’s making an impact!

After just five months, over 60 percent of residents in central Iowa and nearly 50 percent of residents in southern Georgia were aware of the campaign. More than two thirds of people had taken action or intended to take action in response to the campaign, including visiting their local library or talking about the campaign to friends and family. And, in southern Georgia, there was a statistically significant improvement in people’s willingness to support an increase in library funding.

A few pilot libraries also reported other positive outcomes as a result of improved community perceptions, such as fewer budget cuts (and even increased financial support) from both the local and state level, and increased staff compensation. The results of the Geek the Library pilot will be available in a comprehensive report later this year.

OCLC is currently accepting requests from libraries and library systems interested in implementing Geek the Library in their community. To learn more visit get.geekthelibrary.org.

Michael Scott, Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage Coordinator, will discuss how she uses everything from social media to WorldCat.org to increase the visibility of their online collections.

Also hear from Suzanne Butte, OCLC Digital Services Consultant, about how other libraries, museums and archives use a wide variety of ways to increase awareness and promote their digital collections.

Register Now for September 22 Webinar»
View Archive for Digitization & Preservation Symposium »

Communities across the country are pursuing a burgeoning strategy known as economic gardening, which works to stimulate the development of small business with the goal of growing a healthy, community-scale economy. Libraries can be key players in supporting and facilitating their success. This Libraries and Economic Development webinar series will expand your thinking about the powerful connection. Your host for the series is Shelley Walchak, a mover-and-shaker with the official title of Library Community Programs Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library.

Webinar 1: How to Make Your Library Entrepreneur-Friendly
Tuesday, Aug 17, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific

Christine Hamilton-Pennell literally wrote the book. She is an articulate proponent of libraries’ support for local entrepreneurs. Learn specific steps your library can take to connect with and support its local business community. If you’re at all intrigued by the concept of economic gardening, this webinar is a must-see. Hamilton-Pennell introduces the strategies and lays the groundwork for their practical application, which will be covered in the following two webinars.

Webinar 2: Turning Your Databases into Business for Your Customers
Tuesday, Aug 24, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific

Your library may already have the tools at hand (or close by) to help stimulate economic development in your community and you don’t have to be a trained business reference librarian to use them. Presenters Terry Zarsky and Kathleen Rainwater will give a guided tour through the best databases for small business information.

Webinar 3: Going to Your Customer – Outreach and Strategic Partnerships
Tuesday, Aug 31, 4pm Eastern/1pm Pacific

How do you let the business community know that your library is primed and ready to help? Presenters Suzanne Kaller and Colbe Galston will talk about how to get the word out to Chambers of Commerce, small business development centers, community groups and government entities.

For more information and to access archives and registration:
http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources/articles/content/103122377