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                                               Contact: Megan McFarlane


Campaign coordinatorÂ


Campaign for America’s Libraries


ALA Public Information Office

mmcfarlane@ala.org


312-280-2148

For Immediate Release


July 21, 2009

How has your library stepped up to the plate?

Submit your “Step Up to the Plate @ your library” story

(Chicago) The Campaign for America’s Libraries is looking for stories about how libraries are promoting the fourth season of “Step Up to the Plate @ your library.”

From now until August 18, libraries are encouraged to submit stories, photos and videos of “Step Up to the Plate @ your library” activities. They can send an e-mail to baseball@ala.org for possible posting to the “Step Up to the Plate”
Web site. They may also be shared with national media as part of the American Library Association’s (ALA) “Step Up to the Plate” outreach.

Examples can include footage and photos from events, photos of signage, “Step Up to the Plate” public service announcements (PSAs), clips from local media or scans of publicity materials.Â


Season Four of Step Up to the Plate @ your library teams up two American classics - baseball and libraries - to promote the importance of information literacy skills and increase awareness of the library as an essential information resource.

Step Up to the Plate centers on a baseball trivia contest. People of all ages are encouraged to visit their library and answer a series of trivia questions inspired by the history and diversity of our national pastime. Trivia questions, developed by the library staff at the Hall of Fame, focus on multiculturalism in baseball and baseball around the world. Trivia questions and tools to help librarians promote the program locally are available on the program's
Web site.

One grand-prize winner will receive a trip to the Hall of Fame in October 2009.

Librarians who bring in the most entries can win incentives for participation. The library that brings in the most entries will get a $100 bookstore gift certificate. The next three libraries will receive a $50 ALA Graphics gift certificate.

The Hall of Fame is a partner in the Campaign for America’s Libraries (
www.ala.org/@yourlibrary), 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 by ALA’s Library Champions, corporations and foundations that advocate the importance of the library in American society.

Other partners are the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Dollar General, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), Univision Radio, Verizon and Woman's Day magazine.