LITTLE ROCK — Things that people are passionate about are what they “geek,” according to
a Rogers Public Library staff
memo - and the library wants
to be high on that list.
The Geek the Library
campaign, which kicks
off Saturday, is a program
designed to get the word out
that “whatever you’re excited
about, your library probably
has something or can get their
hands on whatever you’re
interested in,” says Jeanne
Besaw, technical services
supervisor at the library. This
is a national campaign funded
by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation and supported
by OCLC, which is a service
provider to libraries around
the world, she says. It will be
ongoing throughout 2013.
Besaw says a 7-year-old at
the library was asked what
he geeks, and he said he
geeks worms. Staff members
were able to take him to the
children’s section and find a
book about composting using
worms, she says. She adds that
there are all kinds of things the
library provides that people
don’t realize, such as being
able to check out a fishing
pole for the weekend. She
notes that anyone can walk in
and use the library without a
library card, and although they
can’t check out items, they can
use any amenities on site.
For the kickoff of the Geek
the Library campaign, area
vendors who sell technology
items will be at the library
to share a day of technology,
Besaw says. They will not be
selling anything, but they will
show people all the things
they can do with items such
as laptops, digital cameras,
smart phones or iPads. People
can bring in their gadgets and
ask the vendors how to usethem. The vendors will also have new products on display and have advance information about their sales on Black Friday, she adds.
The library also has iPads, laptops and eReaders that can be used on site, and these will be available for demonstrations Saturday as well, according to Besaw.
Teens have volunteered to demonstrate how to do original artwork on tablets and will also have Xbox LIVE and games in the teen area. Besaw says library employees will be showing people how to do story time using a Kindle Fire in the children’s area.
In the conference room, Walmart representatives will be offering some advance opportunities for people to check out the games and games devices coming out at Christmastime, Besaw says.
She notes that she heard many times last year that parents had purchased games that were not a good fit or too mature for their kids, so they can come in and see if these games are suitable for their children to play.
The library has bags, shirts,bookmarks and posters for the Geek the Library campaign.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave the library permission to use all of these items free of charge through 2015. Besaw says if the campaign goes well, the day of technology could become an annual event. Another one is scheduled in February.
Throughout the campaign, people can talk to anyone at the library about the campaign, and there will also be handouts and signs, she says. Besaw says that her favorite part of the campaign is connecting people with services in the community.
Whats Up, Pages 20 on 11/16/2012