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Westport Library Wraps Up 'Geek' Campaign, Marches Toward Expansion

WESTPORT, Conn. — The Westport Library celebrated "It's A Wrap ... Geek Party" with a sense of humor to mark the end of its "What Do You Geek"  campaign to bring awareness to the community treasure. 

The Westport Library’s original benefactor Morris Jesup, dressed for the "It's A Wrap" party.

The Westport Library’s original benefactor Morris Jesup, dressed for the "It's A Wrap" party.

Photo Credit: Roy Fuchs
Westport Library Director Bill Harmer welcomes the crowd.

Westport Library Director Bill Harmer welcomes the crowd.

Photo Credit: Roy Fuchs
Photographer Pam Einarsen and husband Paul with library director Bill Harmer. She took over 600 "geek" photos.

Photographer Pam Einarsen and husband Paul with library director Bill Harmer. She took over 600 "geek" photos.

Photo Credit: Roy Fuchs
A geek puzzle for everyone to take a turn.

A geek puzzle for everyone to take a turn.

Photo Credit: Roy Fuchs
Roy Fuchs, author of the story, geeks the book sale at the Westport Library. This is one of 600 taken for the awareness campaign.

Roy Fuchs, author of the story, geeks the book sale at the Westport Library. This is one of 600 taken for the awareness campaign.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Roy Fuchs

Bill Harmer, executive director of the Westport Library, greeted nearly 100 people gathered in the library’s Great Hall for the party. The campaign, which kicked off last April, connected people by using photos of them showing off their passions, and communicating the important role the library plays in the community.

People's passions, Harmer said, run from those who geeked film and photography, teddybears and dragons to those who geeked baking and bacon — and everything in between.

He thanked the “best staff and the best Board of Trustees,” and called them the reason the campaign was so successful as Westport embraced its geekdom. He noted that he has been in his position for about one year, and called Westport “a magical place,” a home for captains of industry, leaders and doers.

Harmer also thanked Pam Einarsen, who took the more than 600 geek photos, many of which have been displayed by the library over the past few months.

Entertainment was provided by a troupe of six improv actors. They took audience requests and built skits sound them.

They were followed by serving up the geek cakes.

After the celebration, Harmer said the Westport Library's expansion program is on target for a shovel in the ground one year from now. 

The “new” library will have the same footprint, but will substantially expand its offerings, making the most use of technology. It is all designed to make the library even more of a community learning center.

He recently walked the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee through the plan. 

On Sept. 7, Harmer will present it to the Board of Finance. Before year end, the plan, complete with cost estimates, will be ready for public presentation.

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