Ankeny Library Shows Us Geeky is a Good Thing

The days are gone when the word ‘geek’ was associated with Coke-bottle glasses, pocket protectors and Star Wars.

To ‘geek’ something now is to be passionate and knowledgeable about a specific hobby or subject, and in Ankeny has taken to celebrating the passions of geeks throughout the community with its Geek the Library program.

“Not only do we get to showcase a lot of the people who come into the library on a regular basis and what they’re passionate about,” said Joy Tofteland, reference librarian at Kirkendall, “but we use it as a marketing tool for the library.

“We get to showcase what the library does for them.”

An organization called the Online Computer Library Center originally launched the Geek the Library campaign to raise the public’s awareness of libraries. The campaign was funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The group chose two test regions. Ankeny was included in one. Kirkendall Director Sarah Willeford said library staff and officials decided in June 2009 it would be a good investment to become involved in the national campaign.

“The purpose (of the campaign) was to assess awareness and see if it led to more private funding of the library,” Willeford said.

After participating for nearly a year, Willeford said Kirkendall did not see a rise in private funding that could be directly linked to the campaign.

Kirkendall opted out of the national campaign in April 2010, but the library moved forward with its own version of Geek the Library, funded from the library’s annual budget.

Library staff turned Geek the Library into a marketing campaign. Library users and area residents are now asked to fill out a form, from which library staff will choose one ‘geek’ to feature each week. The only criterion is the individual must be passionate about or have extensive knowledge of a subject.

Tofteland said previous geeks have interests ranging from gardening to bluegrass music to architecture. The geeks themselves have been teachers, elected officials and Chamber of Commerce board members, to name a few.

Each person chosen is displayed on a promotional poster with a photo as well as what subject he or she ‘geeks’. Posters are displayed in the library, and the individual also is featured in the Ankeny Register & Press Citizen.

In addition to sharing what they’re passionate about, geeks are encouraged to share what they enjoy about Kirkendall Public Library.

An advantage of the program, Tofteland said, is it helps the library know what its patrons are interested in.

“We use it for collection development,” she said. “That way we can truly say we have something for everyone here.”

Willeford said the campaign has been a fun way to promote both the library and its users.

“No matter what they geek, we can always find ways to tie it back to the library,” she said.

It also is a way to show appreciation to those who utilize the library.

“It’s a way to say thank-you to those who have done so much for us,” Willeford said.