Show library card, get cheap tickets

Batters up for reading! Gail Borden Public Library is partnering with the women's professional softball team, the Chicago Bandits, to celebrate literacy at the Bandits' last home game of the season on Aug. 17. Anyone attending the game with a library card will receive half price admission for $5. The Bandits will be playing the Rockford Thunder on Literacy Day.

The game, starting at 3:05 p.m., will be played at Judson University.

Prior to the game, children up to 15 years old have a chance to enter three different drawings at the library. The drawings are for a chance to participate in extra activities at the Literacy Day Bandits game and are for playing infield games between innings, four winners; being a Bandit for a day, one winner; and being a guest announcer, six winners. Drawing slips and boxes will be next to the greeter desk in the library.

The day will be filled with great softball and wonderful messages about reading.

In addition, several Bandits team members in uniform will visit the library to read stories out loud to children from noon to 1 p.m. today.