Content area

Abstract

Geek the Library, a community awareness campaign designed to highlight the vital role of public libraries and raise awareness about the critical funding issues many libraries face, was developed based on the research findings included in "From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America." This study, published by OCLC in 2008, found that increasing funding support for public libraries requires changing community perceptions. This new report documents the results of the Geek the Library pilot campaign conducted in partnership with nearly 100 public libraries in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. The results are optimistic. The report suggests that Geek the Library can change perceptions about libraries, librarians and public library funding, and that implementation of the campaign can positively impact public library funding trends. Findings include: (1) Geek the Library gets people's attention. In just five months, more than half of surveyed residents were familiar with the campaign; (2) Geek the Library raises awareness. Perceptions and attitudes around the library's importance and value in the community improved in southern Georgia, and more people said they were willing to fund the library; and (3) Geek the Library encourages action. Over two-thirds of surveyed residents in both southern Georgia and central Iowa had planned or had taken an action as a result of the campaign, including talking to friends and family about the library or attending a library event. The report contains details from qualitative and quantitative research, as well as interesting insights based on the experiences of participating libraries. Appended are: (1) Glossary; (2) List of Pilot Libraries; (3) About Our Partners; and (4) About OCLC.

Details

1007399
Identifier / keyword
Sponsor
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Title
Geek the Library: A Community Awareness Campaign. A Report to the OCLC Membership
Corporate/institutional author
Editor
Edvardsen, Linn Haugestad
Pages
108
Number of pages
108
Publication date
2011
Printer/Publisher
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Inc. 6565 Kilgour Place, Dublin, OH 43017
http://www.oclc.org
Tel.: 800-848-5878, Fax: 614-764-6096
Publisher e-mail
ISBN
1556533934
Source type
Report
Summary language
English
Language of publication
English
Document type
Statistics/Data Report, Report
Subfile
ERIC, Resources in Education (RIE)
Accession number
ED532602
ProQuest document ID
1023532255
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/reports/geek-library-community-awareness-campaign-report/docview/1023532255/se-2?accountid=208611
Last updated
2024-03-07
Database
Education Research Index