Contact: Carrie Lane Youth Services Coordinator 22 Wabash Street, Suite 202 Pittsburgh, PA 15220 412.921.1123 ext. 303 [email protected] For Immediate Release BELOVED CHILDREN’S AUTHOR KATE DICAMILLO TO SPEAK IN PITTSBURGH Visit Culminates a Five-Month Series of Events Promoting Literacy, Creativity and Books PITTSBURGH (April 28, 2015) — The Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) and Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures (PA&L) are launching “Stories Connect Us,” a five-month series of activities to encourage children to engage with literature and share their creativity. As a capstone to this series of community programs, Kate DiCamillo, noted author and 2014-15 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, will appear on October 15, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland. Beginning in May and continuing through October, ACLA and PA&L will partner to assist organizations in planning program activities around the theme, “Stories Connect Us.” Schools, libraries and out-ofschool-time organizations can all be part of the Our Stories, Our Community project through a simple, free registration. More information can be accessed on the website: www.aclalibraries.org/storiesconnectuspgh. There are many opportunities for participation including: hosting events connected to Flora & Ulysses or any of Kate DiCamillo’s other titles, serving as community centers for children to create and submit projects for the countywide contest, promoting the October event with Kate DiCamillo, and sharing pictures and testimonials about projects and programs on the Our Stories, Our Community website. Eryn Morgan, Director of Marketing at PA&L, explains, “The Our Stories, Our Community project is connecting Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures to libraries and schools across Allegheny County and is furthering our mission to connect world-class authors telling great stories with Pittsburgh’s readers. Through this partnership with ACLA, Pittsburgh’s youth will be encouraged to engage with great literature throughout this spring and summer, and will have the opportunity to be inspired by Ms. DiCamillo this October. We are excited by all the possibilities this project holds for Pittsburgh’s young readers!” Students in grades 3-6 interested in participating in a countywide project contest must register at a participating local library, school, or out-of-school-time organization. A list of participating sites is available on the Our Stories, Our Community website. Projects can be a drawing, short story, poem or other approved medium; they must express a personal connection with one of Kate DiCamillo’s book, a suggested read-a-like (also available on the website), or the “Stories Connect Us” theme; and they must be an original work by the student or a team of no more than five students that is creative and unique. Projects are due to the local library, school or other participating organization by Tuesday, September 15. Five winners will be chosen and announced at the culminating event at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 15. Winners will receive a private meet and greet session with Kate DiCamillo before the live evening event on October 15, 2015, as well as a certificate of achievement. The aim is to connect students, educators and parents from across the county through this culminating live event. For more information about participating or creating a project for Our Stories, Our Communities, visit the project website at www.aclalibraries.org/storiesconnectuspgh. Single tickets for the live program with Kate DiCamillo will go on sale September 15th at pittsburghlectures.org or by phone at 412.622.8866. ### About the Allegheny County Library Association Collaboration. Cooperation. Coordination. The Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) is a system of 45 independent public libraries with more than 70 locations that work together, share resources and cooperate to better serve county residents. These libraries are community connectors providing opportunities for personal and professional development through access to content and experiences for all ages. ACLA libraries support education and exploration while developing early literacy skills, school readiness and lifelong learning. About Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh To Engage our Community in Literacy and Learning Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is supporting individual achievement and strengthening the power of community. Through the community’s investment, the Library is enhancing the lives of people in the greater Pittsburgh region with dynamic and diverse resources such as creative learning programs for children and teens, job and career assistance for our community's workforce, and free computer and Internet access for all. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh builds community, enables learning, provides access and values people. About Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures is a non-profit literary arts organization whose mission is to connect renowned authors and their work with the community and, in doing so, foster a love of literature and elevate our civic discourse. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures produces the Monday Night Lectures sponsored by The Drue Heinz Trust, PA&L Kids and Teens, and a variety of other literary arts events each year.