Houston, Baltimore Library Challenge For Texans-Ravens MNF Game

HOUSTON, TX — Tonight's Monday Night Football (MNF) game between the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens will be a win-win for the teams' respective public libraries. For Houston, all funds raised will go towards a new Mobile Express Library unit to help communities hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey and others that need assistance. It's dubbed the Book Bowl Fundraiser Throw Down Challenge.

Houstonians probably want to win both the game and the library throw down challenge. And if resiliency shown in the aftermath of the horrible hurricane that crushed Houston in August, then Houston should come out pretty well tonight.

"HPL is ready to win the challenge, but, we can’t do it without the participation of our great community," the library stated in a release. "The Library is calling all football fans to gather their friends, coworkers and colleagues to give today starting at 7:30 p.m."

When the football game whistle blows that’s when the Book Bowl Thrown Down Challenge begins. The competition kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Texas time Monday night (game kick-off time) on Nov. 27 until 11:59 p.m., November 28, 2017. Houston will be competing dollar for dollar to beat Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Every year the Enoch Pratt Library of Baltimore reaches out to the library of their Monday Night Football competitor to extend a fundraising challenge in preparation for #GivingTuesday, a national day of giving.

For all the challenge details and how to participate visit: houstonlibrary.org or the HPL Foundation or call 832-393-1313.

To supplement the regular programming offered by the several damaged HPL libraries, many communities have been mainly relying on HPL’s Mobile Express outreach units. Last year HPL’s Community Outreach team went to 826 events in the community, served 305 organizations, provided 448 programs, and made direct contact with over 21,000 people in 60 zip codes through the Mobile Express units. The mobiles successfully have extended library services to populations in need that their demand has risen year after year.

Last fiscal year, 25,025 people needing service were turned down, because HPL didn’t have enough mobile units. Now the need is even greater, because these units are serving as libraries and technology hubs in the neighborhoods where libraries are now closed.

Photo courtesy of Houston Public Library