For immediate release | July 12, 2011

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken named Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month

New print public service announcement available

CHICAGO – This September, baseball Hall of Famer and author Cal Ripken will encourage children to get the most important school supply of all: a library card.

As the Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month, Cal Ripken has donated his image to a print and digital public service announcement (PSA). ALA will place the PSA in magazines and on websites to remind parents and educators that a library card is a key tool in achieving academic success.

Librarians looking to promote Library Card Sign-up Month locally can download the PSA at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup. Free customization is available.

In addition to the PSA, sample media tools are now available to remind the public of all the resources available for free with a library card. Tools include a sample press release, newsletter article, proclamation and PSA scripts.

To download free promotional materials, visit www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Thousands of public and school libraries join together each fall in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card.

The Campaign for America’s is Libraries is the ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA’s Library Champions.

Contact:

Megan McFarlane