News, Stories and More

Geek the Library Making an Impact

Part of our mission, once we complete our pilot awareness campaign, is to evaluate whether or not we’ve made an impact. And while we have months to go, we’re delighted to report that we already are! Stories from communities in and around our participating libraries, as well as across the country, are coming in about how libraries are adopting elements of the campaign.

One example comes from Creekview High School in Canton, Georgia. Buffy Hamilton, a tech-savvy high school librarian, has adopted the campaign with open arms. Hamilton wants to inspire her patrons—the students—to talk about what they geek, as well as take a new look at how the library can support them and their interests. In addition to creating and distributing custom ‘I geek’ stickers of the library’s brand, The Unquiet Library, she also wanted to recreate the Geek Wall experience. So, with black construction paper and silver markers, her library has taken on new life. Student upon student, she explains, continue to volunteer to showcase their passions in this simple, but significant way.

In addition to celebrating people’s passions, notes Hamilton, the campaign also provides a critical lesson about the value of all libraries and how each person plays a role in supporting them. But if the positive initial response to her efforts wasn’t telling, she says, she recently got full confirmation that the campaign’s personal approach works. “Some ninth-grade football players came in to see if they could take part. Football players! And they came to us.”

The display has been so successful, she says, plans are in the works to help students create custom photos, and perhaps, videos. Reminding the public just how relevant libraries still are and that they offer something for everyone, she continues, can have tremendous impact well beyond the walls of the library. “Geek the Library is a positive movement for all libraries. This kind of advocacy helps all of us.”

August 31, 2009 buffy hamilton, georgia, news, photo, the unquiet librarian, the unquiet library