Tag Archives: Campaign

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

The Geek the Library Campaign!

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The Geek the Library campaign grabs people’s attention and serves as a reminder about the immense value public libraries have for individuals and for communities. The awareness campaign introduces the word ‘geek’ as a verb and illustrates the fact that everyone is passionate about something—everyone ‘geeks’ something—and that the public library supports it all. (And you will find people who are excited to tell you what they geek.)

Get a complete Geek the Library overview and your questions answered in a live format. Informational webinars are a simple way to learn about the details before committing to participate in the program. Go to http://tinyurl.com/plt3kg2

Why is Geek the Library only open to public libraries?
Based on a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research and development of the Geek the Library campaign—including all campaign materials—is geared specifically to public library funding issues. However, we encourage other libraries to use the free downloads available on geekthelibrary.org, such as customizable e-mail signatures, and various computer wallpapers and Web banners. This is a great way to show support for your public library!

Top Ten List of Why to Geek Your Library

http://get.geekthelibrary.org/why-this-campaign/

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

CSB/SJU Librarians Featured in New Campaign

Image by CSB/SJU featuring Librarian, David Malone.
Image by CSB/SJU featuring Librarian, David Malone.

Last October,  the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University (CSB/SJU) launched a campaign featuring librarians in Halloween-type costumes sporting the slogan, “Librarians aren’t scary – they’re scary good at research.” So this year, the Marketing Committee was challenged to develop another campaign to promote awareness of Library/Media/Archives to advance a greater recognition of the value of these services appealing to a broader audience.   Kathy Parker, Director of Libraries, Media, and Archives at CSB/SJU said, “This specific campaign was designed to help make the librarians more approachable in the eyes of our students –to show them we have a sense of humor and maybe aren’t as stuffy as librarian stereotypes can suggest.”

Eight images were printed as posters and placed throughout campus.  The digital versions of these posters have appeared in the CSB/SJU’s social media, including Facebook and Twitter (@csbsjulibraries).  In addition, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) has also featured these funny, targeted posters  (link 1, link 2.)

What have/can you do to get people talking about your library?

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Everyone On?

This post has been written by Nancy Walton, Minnesota State Librarian

  • While the focus of this message is on public libraries, the understanding is that other libraries and may be interested in leveraging this campaign. More information will be available over time.

On March 21st, Connect2Compete (C2C), http://connect2compete.org/, launched a 3-year national public service campaign to promote digital literacy called EveryoneOn, http://everyoneon.org. The key message of the campaign is to encourage limited or non-Internet users to learn how to do “one thing better online”. Public libraries and their community partners are key to the success of this effort due to their demonstrated commitment to providing free access to the Internet as well as to improving people’s skills (e.g. using a mouse, applying for jobs online, creating email accounts, and so much more). While some libraries offer formal classes, all libraries offer public access computers and skilled assistance to patrons at point-of-use.

EveryoneOn Campaign Materials:

Libraries and community partners can begin using these campaign materials at any time via this Ad Council website for EveryoneOn, http://everyoneon.adcouncil.org/. Additional campaign materials for EveryoneOn, including logos, graphics and examples of public service announcements are expected to be made available later this month. Libraries and their community partners will have full access to these campaign materials to promote digital literacy in local communities.

With some preliminary support from the Ad Council, the St. Paul Public Library did a Kickoff event today – 3-21 On! EveryoneOn.org Kickoff. Check their Facebook page for photos!

EveryoneOn is designed to raise awareness of the importance of digital literacy skills – which libraries have embraced for years. This is a great opportunity to promote public libraries as a trusted and valuable provider of free public access technology and training as we strive to build stronger communities.

Orientation:

Libraries will be invited to view a webinar that will discuss EveryoneOn, including campaign toolkit materials and how they might be used.

Training Locator Database:

Connect2Compete is creating a Training Locator database with details about the services and resources the library and their community partners make available to help people learn digital literacy skills or access the Internet. Using information from the Institute of Museums and Library Services and the American Library Association, Connect2Compete has created a database of information about public libraries in the United States.

The database will power a Training Locator tool for people interested in finding digital literacy training or public access computers in their area. A 1-800 phone number will also be available with this information for those without internet access.

Important Notes to Minnesota Library Staff:

  1. Your help may be needed to update this database with information about what each library location/branch currently offers.
  2. We are advising Minnesota libraries to wait to update their entries until further notice. C2C had a tight launch timeframe, and they will be tweaking the data load for Minnesota libraries. While instructions and a link for updating the Training Locator database are on the Connect2Compete site, we suggest you wait to update Minnesota library entries until further notice from Minnesota State Library Services to avoid possible duplication of effort.
  3. Your help to promote the database will be needed in the future. At the moment, C2C is resolving known search problems. So, if you play with the Locator and encounter challenges, try again in a few days. C2C considers 3/21 a “soft launch” for EveryoneOn.

Look for more information soon! If any questions, please contact Mary Ann Van Cura (651-582-8632 or mary.ann@state.mn.us).

Thanks!

Nancy Walton, Director & State Librarian