Texas Library Association

Book Cart Drill Team
2009 State Championship

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
5:00 – 6:00 pm
George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas

On Your Mark, Start Your Cart!

The Texas Library Association will hold a competition to crown the 2009 Texas State Champion Book Cart Precision Drill Team. For the uninitiated, library book cart precision drill teams are groups of library staff members who push book carts in formation to music. Often the book carts are decorated and so are the library staff members! Book cart drill teams are being used to promote libraries in parades and community events all over the state. It is now time to answer the question: does your library have the best drill team in Texas?

Contestants will be judged on artistic impression, technical ability, best costumes, best cart decorations, and more.
WIN TROPHIES, ACCOLADES & the admiration of your peers !!

In addition, winners will be invited to participate in the
ALA World Championship in June, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois.

TEAM APPLICATION
FORM

sponsored by

1. The number of teams will be limited.

2. DEMCO will supply up to 12 book carts per team.  TLA teams are not allowed to bring in their own carts. 

3. All teams must check into contest no later than 4:00 pm to receive their performance time assignment.

4. All teams must advise TLA of the name of the team captain to whom correspondence from TLA may be directed. The captain will be the spokesperson for the team.

5. Each team must advise TLA by March 16, 2009 if recorded music is required for their performance. All music must be sent to TLA by March 16, 2009.

6. Trophies will be awarded to the first, second, and third place teams.  Judges, at their discretion may award honorable mention ribbons to teams who, in their opinion are deserving of this award.

7. Decision of judges is final. 

8. Judging will be based on two criteria:
1. Technical Ability – organization, precision, unique moves, timeliness
2. Artistic Impression – overall performance, music, costumes, cart décor
9. Each team will be allotted five minutes in which to decorate their book carts prior to their performance.  One end panel of each cart shall remain undecorated in order to display the DEMCO logo.  For reference, the supplied book carts will be DEMCO product 1416572 - two tier(www.demco.com).

10. Each routine may last no more than 4 minutes.  If the team goes over the 4 minute time limit, .05 points for each 10 seconds over the 4 minutes will be deducted from the Technical Ability score.

11. Cost of entry is $25.00 payable to TLA.  The fee must be included with each team’s application.  It can be paid by check or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover/Novus). 

12. If TLA cancels event, the entry fee will be returned in full.  If a team cancels on or before March 16, 2009, the fee will be returned minus a $10 processing fee.  If a team cancels March 16, 2009 or later, the fee will be forfeited.

13. Questions should be directed to Devery Johnson.

14. This event or part of this event may be televised.  Team members may be asked to sign a release; however, this is not mandatory.  If the team wishes not to be televised, TLA will make sure that it will not be televised.

15. TLA may videotape this event for archival purposes only.

16. TLA or DEMCO, Inc. cannot be responsible for injury or damage to person or property incurred during performance. Teams agree that they will indemnify and hold harmless of, from and against all claims, demands, actions damages, loss, cost, liabilities, expenses and judgments recovered from or asserted against TLA or DEMCO, Inc. on account of injury or damage to property.

17. Any and all matters not specifically covered by the preceding rules and regulations shall be subject solely to the decision of TLA.  TLA shall have the full power to interpret, amend, and enforce these regulations provided any amendments, when made, are brought to the notice of the participants.  Each participant agrees to abide by the forgoing rules and regulations and by any amendments or additions thereto in conformance with the preceding sentence.

18. An authorized representative of each team must sign and return one copy of these rules to TLA, by March 16, 2009 along with an application and payment of $25.00.  Mail to the Texas Library Association, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, Texas, 78746.