May 25, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Scholz, Library Development Specialist, 239.461.2914, email kscholz@leegov.com

Join the Major Leagues @ your library®;
Lee County Library System sponsors baseball literacy contest

FORT MYERS, FL, May 25, 2004 - The Lee County Library System (LCLS) joins the American Library Association (ALA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) in inviting people of all ages to "Join the Major Leagues @ your library." This new program is designed to help children and adults build their 21st century information literacy skills and better understand how libraries and librarians can help them. Everyone who successfully completes the program will be eligible to win two tickets to a game of the 2004 Major League Baseball World Series®. The program is available June 1st and runs through September 10, 2004.

The "Join the Major Leagues @ your library" program is designed to test players' information literacy skills by challenging them to answer questions like "What player holds the big league record with 4,256 hits?" or "The designated hitter made its first appearance in the major leagues in what year?" and "Which batter was the youngest ever to win a batting championship?"

Unlike most contests, players are encouraged to look up the answers using both print and online sources at their library.

One grand-prize winner will travel to a designated game of the 2004 Major League Baseball World Series. Twelve first place prizes will be awarded, including a copy of "Promises to Keep," a book written by Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon, a program t-shirt and a poster featuring Jackie Robinson. Winners will be notified in early October.

Players can pick up a copy of the "Join the Major Leagues" Playbook appropriate for their age group at any Lee County Library System location or on The Campaign for America's Libraries Web site at www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/jointhemajorleagues . The Playbook poses a series of baseball-related questions to test players' information literacy skills. Players can enter the prize drawing by submitting the completed playbook.

Additional programs to support Join the Major Leagues @ your library are also scheduled. Children age 12 and under can receive free tickets to Fort Myers Miracle "Books and Bats" games by completing a Miracle "Books and Bats" reading log and redeeming it at a participating Pizza Hut. The Lee County Library System will be attending these "Books and Bats" games at the Lee County Sports Complex on June 20, July 6 and August 3. Kids age 18 and under are encouraged to visit the LCLS table and show their library cards to receive a special prize.

Patrons are also invited to meet the Fort Myers Miracle Baseball Team mascot and talk with a Miracle player at their library. Attendees can also play the word game "Baseball Around Florida" for a chance to win box seats to a Miracle game. Program dates are as follows:

11 a.m. Saturday, June 5
Riverdale Branch Library, 14561 State Road 80, Fort Myers
(239) 461-3130
This program presented in Spanish

1 p.m., Saturday, July 10
South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero
(239) 390-3200

11 a.m. Friday, July 23
East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres
(239) 461-7300

11 a.m. Monday, August 2
North Fort Myers Public Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail NE, N. Fort Myers
(239) 997-0320

11 a.m. Wednesday, August 4
Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library, 3095 Blount Street, Fort Myers
(239) 334-3602

11 a.m. Saturday, August 14
Fort Myers-Lee County Public Library, 2050 Central Avenue, Fort Myers
(239) 479-4635

All Lee County Library System programs are free and open to the public. A sign language interpreter is available with 48-hour notice. Call the Deaf Service Center at 461-0334 (voice) or 461-0438 (TTY). Assistive listening devices are available upon request.

Be sure to check out all the other programs happening this month at the Lee County Library System web site www.lee-county.com/library or pick up a Calendar of Events on your next visit. For more information on any library program, call your library, or Telephone Reference at 479-INFO (4636).