More information and comments from State Librarian Mary Wegner

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently announced a $5 million grant to the OCLC library cooperative to develop a public awareness campaign that highlights what people are passionate about and how libraries can support them, in an effort to heighten understanding about the critical funding issues public libraries face.
     OCLC is partnering with libraries in two regions of the United States - central Iowa and Savannah, Georgia – to pilot the campaign.  The Iowa campaign launched on June 25 at an Iowa Cubs game in Principal Park, Des Moines, and will run through December 2009.  Libraries in Dallas, Polk, Story and Warren counties are the initial participants.  OCLC will make the campaign materials, along with information from the pilot campaigns, available to all Iowa libraries in 2010.
     Although millions of Americans enjoy public library resources, and understand the transformational role libraries play for individuals and communities, most people don’t know if their local library is adequately funded or that they have an influential role in how well their library is supported.  The campaign is designed to help build public awareness that libraries need community support and adequate funding in order to remain strong.
     “Libraries are working harder than ever to provide the services their communities need but resources are strained,” said State Librarian Mary Wegner.  “ Public libraries in Iowa and across the country play a vital role in transforming people’s lives and building community, and we’re excited about helping Iowans better understand the challenges of library funding and how every individual is part of the equation.”
     The campaign introduces the word “geek” as a verb.  To “geek” something is to have a passion for it and to possess a large amount of knowledge about it.  Whatever you geek, the library supports you.
     The campaign features advertising, e-mail marketing, a campaign Web site, and grassroots community initiatives.  It aims to help people understand how their public library is personally relevant and uniquely vital to their local community.  It hopes to start a conversation about library funding to inspire more people to take personal responsibility for keeping their local public libraries vital in their communities. 
     The campaign in based on findings from a 2008 OCLC research report, “From Awareness to Funding.” OCLC found that while public library use is growing, funding has declined.  Other key findings of the report are that perceptions of the librarian are an important predictor of library funding support and that people who perceive the library as a transformational force in their lives, as opposed to simply an informational resource, are more committed to library support.
      "The State Library of Iowa is very pleased to partner with OCLC in this important project," said Wegner.  "We know that Iowa’s public libraries are key partners in their local communities, and we welcome the opportunity to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and OCLC to develop more effective ways to tell the library story."