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Politics & Government

Suisun Library Wants You To Geek

With the help of a new campaign, the library hopes to get more people interested the services they provide

What do you geek? Beauty? Sports? Gluten-free Cooking? This October, wants you to “Geek the Library.”

“It’s a campaign to let people know whatever you’re interested in, whatever your passion is, somehow the library can help you get information on it,” said Laurie Johnson, head librarian.

Geek the Library is a movement funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation paired with Online Computer Library Center Inc., a nonprofit library cooperative that led the development of the campaign, to “provoke conversation” concerned with the importance of supporting public libraries and librarians, especially in the tough economic climate. Solano Library was the first in the state to join the campaign. Libraries across two dozen states are participating.

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“What we’re doing is we’re going around and we had an opening at in Solano Mall on October 8th to Geek the Library,” said Johnson. “We’re looking for local celebrities that we can actually take their picture and put what they geek.”

Johnson said backing from the foundation helps libraries, who depend on public funding, reach more people than they would have normally been able to. Also, most people are not aware of the limited funding sources their local library has available, she said.

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According to a chart in Solano Napa and Partner’s quarterly publication, “Check It Out,” property taxes cover only 40 percent of Solano County Library’s funding. reimbursement for services covers 30 percent, Measure B funds 22 percent, fines and fees as well as state aid account for 3 percent each, and 2 percent is derived from miscellaneous revenue.  Measure B funding was approved in 1998, but is set to expire in 2014.

“This campaign is to really acknowledge that public libraries are struggling and to really get our face out there,” said Johnson.             

From now into early next year, various posters will be present around the library with people set in black backgrounds sharing what they geek. To add to the fun of the campaign, you might notice your local librarians within the posters, sharing what they geek, too.

The library is also working with in the campaign. Recently black boards signed by students were put on display sharing their countless interests.

“You take silver pens and your write what you geek,” said Johnson. “I geek worms, I geek walking, whatever you geek. It’s been a really neat thing to get the community involved.”

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