Bluffton area, add a new verb to your vocabulary— “geek.”

Bluffton Public Library announces the launch of its “Geek the Library” campaign beginning with a launch party onSaturday, Sept. 13. The party begins when the library’s doors open at 9:30 a.m. and continues until closing time at 2 p.m. 

The public is invited to sign a large “geek board” with a declaration of what they “geek,” and may enter to win prizes (gift cards and more) donated by area businesses and organizations.  The first 50 participants may also receive a professional “I geek _______ photo” provided by Elysian Fields Photography. 

After the launch party, the “Geek the Library” campaign will run for six months, and BPL staff members plan on “geeking” their surrounding community for those months and beyond. Be on the lookout for further collaborations between the library and its surrounding businesses, organizations and patrons during this campaign.  
    
According to Lauren Canaday, library public services coordinator, "Some people may have a negative reaction to the term 'geek,' and it’s time for that to change. 

"This term has worked towards a more positive connotation in American society for some time now, and with this national campaign, OCLC (a nonprofit library support and education cooperative) intends to further that journey towards change. 

"The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded this campaign and together with OCLC they have serviced communities all over America through the libraries that accept the challenge to utilize the campaign."  

The campaign is about raising awareness of: 
• the interests and needs of the community,
• the way the library assists the community as it “geeks” these interests and needs,
• the essential role that the library plays in its community, and
• how the community collaborates with the library.

For more information about this national campaign, please visit geekthelibrary.org.  For more information about BPL’s campaign, go to blufftonpubliclibrary.org. 

You can also learn more (and even RSVP) on BPL’s social media sites.