Contact: Megan McFarlane


Campaign Coordinator


(312) 280-2148


mmcfarlane@ala.org

NEWS


For Immediate Release


June 10, 2008

Promote library family time with


Step Up to the Plate @ your library

Libraries can encourage the whole family to step into the library this summer with Step Up to the Plate @ your library, the baseball trivia contest that encourages people of all ages to use the resources at the library to look up the answers to a series of baseball trivia questions.

The program Web site, at www.ala.org/baseball, contains the program trivia questions in English and Spanish and a complete program toolkit. Free promotional tools on the site’s “How Librarians Can Get Involved” section include:

  • A sample press release that be customized and sent to local newspapers or used in the library’s newsletter;
  • Public service announcement scripts to be sent to local radio stations or used as the basis for YouTube-style “commercials” posted on the library’s Web site;
  • Programming ideas, like library baseball night for library users of all ages, with ball park food and prizes to everyone who hits a home run (answers four questions correctly);
  • Downloadable program logos to use on flyers, customized certificates of participation, signs, and more; and
  • A Web button to link to the Step Up to the Plate Web site.

This is year three of Step Up to the Plate, and this year it’s a whole new “ball game,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Trivia questions, developed by the library staff at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, were inspired by the classic song. Categories of questions include ballparks, baseball in popular culture, fan experience and baseball pioneers.

One grand prize winner will receive a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame’s World Series Gala and a behind-the-scenes tour of the library and archives.

Incentives and prizes are also available to the top libraries that bring in the greatest number of entries. The library that brings in the most number of entries will receive a $100 bookstore gift certificate, a copy of “Baseball’s Greatest Hit: The story of ‘Take Me out to the Ball Game’” by Andy Strasberg, Bob Thompson and Tim Wiles and a baseball signed by spokesperson and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. Three runners up will receive $50 gift certificates to ALA Graphics, a copy of “Baseball’s Greatest Hit” and an autographed baseball.

Developed by ALA and Baseball Hall of Fame, the program runs through September 1. More than 1,000 libraries already have registered for the initiative.

Step Up to the Plate @ your library is part of ALA’s Campaign for America's Libraries public awareness campaign to promote the value of libraries and librarians. The Baseball Hall of Fame is a Campaign Partner. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA's Library Champions, ALA's highest level of corporate members, who support public awareness on behalf of America's libraries.