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Health & Fitness

IT'S TIME TO GET YOUR GEEK ON

Rhode Island celebrities take part in ‘Geek the Library’ campaign to raise awareness about the importance of library funding support

Providence, R.I. – Thanks to some famous Rhode Islanders, the state may soon add a new verb to its vocabulary—‘geek.’

The Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) is coordinating a statewide community-based public awareness campaign called Geek the Library in conjunction with National Library Card Sign-up Month. Launching September 8 in over two dozen public libraries across RI, the campaign highlights what people are passionate about and how libraries can support them—all in an effort to heighten awareness about the critical funding issues public libraries face.

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Geek the Library features local educational material that introduces ‘geek’ as a verb, and encourages the public to talk about what they ‘geek’—whether it’s engineering, superheroes or art. The public awareness campaign illustrates the fact that everyone is passionate about something—everyone ‘geeks’ something—and that the library supports them all. Peter and Bobby Farrelly, Mena Suvari, Ann Hood, Walt Mossberg, and the PawSox mascots have all agreed to be faces for the campaign in an effort to bring attention to the issue.

“This campaign is designed to provoke conversation about the vital role that public libraries and librarians play in today’s challenging environment,” said Cathy De Rosa, global vice president of marketing for OCLC, a nonprofit library cooperative which led campaign development and conducted a pilot campaign from June 2009 to April 2010. “We hope it will spark important community discussions about how public libraries can remain strong.”

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The awareness campaign features a variety of advertising, social networking elements, a Web site and grassroots community initiatives to draw attention to the need for increased library support. The campaign Web site, www.geekthelibrary.org, provides information about how people can get active and support their local library.

As the economic downturn slowly recovers, millions of Americans are turning to local libraries for educational opportunities, job‐searching resources and entertainment. The increased demand for library services is taking a toll on libraries already experiencing flat or decreasing budgets. And state and local cuts are impacting public library hours, programs and staffing, forcing some libraries to close indefinitely.

While most people have visited their public library and understand its important role in their community, many do not know that libraries are at risk or that local funding for libraries is heavily influenced by community members.

“The Geek the Library campaign has been contagious across the country,” said Jenifer Bond, president of RILA. “We’re hoping some of that Geek enthusiasm will spread across Rhode Island and get its residents actively supporting their libraries again.”

This public awareness campaign hopes to start a conversation about library funding to inspire more people to take personal responsibility for keeping their local public libraries vital in their communities.

The campaign will not support or oppose any candidate for public office, nor attempt to influence legislation. As of August 22, there are 35 libraries participating including: Ashaway Free Library; Barrington Public Library; Cranston Public Library’s Arlington Reading Room, Auburn Branch, Central Library, Knightsville Branch, Oak Lawn Branch and William Hall Library; Cumberland Public Library; East Providence’s Weaver Library and Riverside Library; East Smithfield Public Library; Greenville Public Library; Libraries of Foster’s Foster Public Library and Tyler Free Library; Harrisville’s Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library, Little Compton’s Brownell Library; Narragansett’s Maury Loontjens Memorial Library; North Scituate Public Library; North Smithfield Public Library; Providence Community Library’s Mt. Pleasant Library and Rochambeau Library; South Kingstown’s Kingston Free Library, Peace Dale Library and Robert Beverly Hale Library; Tiverton’s Essex Public Library and Union Public Library; Warren’s George Hail Free Library; Warwick Public Library’s Apponaug Branch, Central Library, Conimicut Branch and Norwood Branc; West Warwick Public Library; and Woonsocket Harris Public Library.

Founded in 1903, the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) is a professional association of librarians, library staff, trustees, and library supporters. RILA promotes the profession of librarianship and seeks to improve the visibility, accessibility, responsiveness and effectiveness of library and information services throughout the state. For more information, visit rilibraries.org.

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