Bayview Llc Loan Servicing

Posted onNovember 27, 2011 - 7:57 pm by Admin | 0 Comments

Bill Gates to the Rescue

In light of the global economic downturn, public libraries all over the United States are reporting an uptick in usage, as declining tax revenues and state debt result in serious budget cuts. With rising unemployment rates and the ability to acquire student loans becoming more and more out of reach, the American people find the use of public libraries absolutely crucial when it comes to job searches as well as access to and freedom of information. However, budget cuts for libraries, as well as communities voting down library budget referendums requesting modest tax increases, result in layoffs of library staff and significant difficulty in keeping library collections and technology up-to-date. This makes it an uphill battle for public libraries to accommodate their increased patronage. This national problem sparked the attention of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the private philanthropic foundation run by Bill Gates and his wife Melinda that focuses on several global issues, most notably education and health care. Their focus on education and learning led them to give a generous grant to OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), which is "a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs," according to their official website.

Geek the Library is Born

OCLC partnered with the Chicago-based marketing communications agency Leo Burnett USA, and used the grant money from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the Geek the Library campaign: a national public relations effort to promote awareness as to just how vital libraries are to Americans. The campaign uses the word "geek" as a verb, and asks of library patrons the question, What Do You Geek? To "geek" something means that you are passionate about it and you want to learn as much about the subject as you can. The official website for the campaign states: "No matter who you are, there are things you are passionate about--things you geek. Maybe you geek engineering or hip hop. Maybe you are passionate about composting, schooners or vampires. Or maybe you just geek the weather. Whatever you geek, serious or fun, the public library supports you." This campaign is designed to get regular Americans to remember that when it comes to studying and enjoying their individual passions, the public library is a free fountain of resources, and to "inspire a conversation about our incredible public libraries and their urgent need for increased support." Geek the Library is a non-partisan public awareness campaign that pledges not to endorse any political party or candidate, nor involve itself in the legislative process.

Geek the Library Gains Traction

NPR's All Things Considered picked up the story in May 2011. Celebrities such as Brian Dennehy have posed for posters, and there are hundreds of public libraries throughout the United States officially participating. Marshall District Library in Marshall, Michigan was an early adopter. They began their Geek the Library campaign in the fall of 2010 and wrapped in March 2011 (OCLC asks that libraries commit to running the campaign for at least six months). The resulting case study showed unprecedented success; Geek the Library was "the talk of the town," according to Denise Connelly, a senior library assistant at Marshall District Library. Library patrons were particularly interested in learning about all the services offered by their local library other than just checking out books: "Many people were unaware of how much we work with information literacy, workforce development and small business support," said Marshall District Library Interim Director Angela Semifero. Public libraries often provide free educational programs for children and adults, access to e-books, music and films that can be downloaded to mobile devices, web access, one-on-one research assistance, volunteer opportunities and information about your local community.


→ 0 Comments

Posted in student nursing loan private