Send in the Geeks

The A.C. Hunter Public Library celebrated geek culture on October 19

Melissa Wong

My Online Journalism Blog

In a library not so far, far away geeks of all ages arrived dressed in all kinds of attire to celebrate St. John's fandoms.

Do you know what's happened at A.C. Hunter Public Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 19?

The geeks of Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.) celebrated the return of the event known only as Geek out at the Library. For a few hours, the library embraced and celebrated the growing subculture.

The library organized a 1 p.m. panel called "From Passion to Profession" for locals changing the face of N.L. geek culture.

The panel showcased David Stephens from Time Masters, Julia Mayo a librarian supervisor and Leigha Chaisson-Locke the provincial children services librarian for N.L. Public Libraries.

"It is my mission since moving to Newfoundland to make as many comics appear on the library shelves as possible," Chaisson-Locke said.

"And possibly, change where they are on the shelves," Chaisson-Locke added.



The final member of the panel was Jerry Burt, the co-owner of the Geeks Public House.

"It's passion that drives what we're doing," Burt said referring to his co-owned bar downtown for geek culture. "It's not a get rich quick scheme... we're willing to work 18 hours a day, every day and not complain because you're doing what you love."

Burt was not the only one passionate about geekdom, many other groups came to geek out to live their passion.

R2-D2 and the R2-Builders greeted geeky guests at the in the lower concourse area of the library near the new green screen and NewfoundLUG's Star Wars LEGO display.

R2-D2 posing for the camera outside the children's library
The droid spent time near the table displaying  Star Wars
LEGO builds. My Online Journalism Blog/Melissa Wong 

According to Stephen Churchill, the club's president, NewfoundLUG are a group for N.L.'s LEGO users group.

"This table like I said is just for our Star Wars stuff- we got some other displays here as well," Churchill said. "Just a bunch of guys and girls who like to get together and talk about LEGO and build LEGO."

NewfoundLUG had built many different creations brick by brick that was displayed around the Library for Geek out.

Also, contributing to the library's day for geeks was the dungeon master, Adam Chafe.

According to Chafe, he wanted to "start a dungeons and dragons club here at the library."

A group of volunteers, with a passion for helping children in need, accepted Halloween costumes that were donated during the Geek out. The library accepted video game donations so geeky gamers can borrow free video games from their shelves regularly and embracing N.L.'s geek subculture every day of the year too.


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