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Contact: Macey Morales/Jennifer Petersen
ALA-PIO Media Relations
(312) 280-4393/5043
mmorales@ala.org / jpetersen@ala.org

NEWS
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2008

Library workers put on their dancing shoes for the fourth annual
Library Book Cart Drill Team Championship

(CHICAGO) Who says library workers can’t have fun? You won’t find that old image of buns and black-rimmed glasses here! The fourth annual Library Book Cart Drill Team Championship held from 4 to 5:30 p.m., June 29, Special Events Area, Hall D, Anaheim Convention Center, will showcase library workers performing inspired dance routines with creatively decorated book carts.  The competition is one of the many events taking place during the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference held June 26 – July 2 at the Anaheim Conference Center.

Book Cart Drill Teams are used as a marketing tool to increase visibility of the library in their community, while shattering the conservative stereotype of librarians. Teams can be found at community events such as parades and festivals, traveling to grade schools to promote early literacy and provide library staff with the opportunity to build morale and teamwork.

“Every year we see more and more teams participate in this competition,” said ALA Conference Services Director Deidre Ross. “We are expecting a standing-room only crowd of more than 2,000 to cheer on their favorite team.”

This year’s competing teams include: 

• “Bibliotechies,” St. Margaret's Episcopal School, San Juan Capistrano, CA
• “California Girls,” California School Library Association, Southern Section
• “Call Number 007,” Riverside County Library (Calif.) System - West
• “Dancing Raisinettes,” Fresno County (Calif.) Library 
• “Palm Desert Library Cart Attacks,” Riverside County (Calif.) Library System
• “The Bibliofiles,” Austin (Texas) Public Library  
• “The Delaware Diamonds,” The State of Delaware    
• “Well Stacked Scibrarians,” Santa Monica (Calif.) Public Library

This event is sponsored by DEMCO, who will provide book carts for the event as well as prizes.  First, second and third place winners will receive a plaque, Gold, Silver or a Bronze full-sized book cart.

Media wishing to attend the event may contact Macey Morales, Media Relations manager, 312-280-4393 or via e-mail at mmorales@ala.org, or Jennifer Petersen, ALA PR coordinator, 312-280- 5043 or via e-mail jpetersen@ala.org.

For more information regarding the ALA Annual Conference please visit www.ala.org/annual .