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NEWS BRIEFS The boxes begin to stack up outside the Baseball Operations Center, awaiting the baseball players themselves. The first Orioles home game in Sarasota is set for Feb. 23 against the Minnesota Twins. Photo by Norman Schimmel LIBRARIES AND BALTIMORE ORIOLES TEAM UP TO PROMOTE READING For the third consecutive year, Sarasota County libraries and the Baltimore Orioles are teaming up to promote reading through the Orioles Big League Reader program. Children who sign up for the program and read three or more books in the month of February will receive a reserved grandstand ticket to the Thursday, March 14, game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium, the team and the county have announced. and return them to the library, a library staff member will initial the children's Home Run Reading Cards, which they may trade in for a reserved grandstand ticket to the game at Ed Smith Stadium. "It's a great program that kids love to take part in," said Sarabeth Kalajian, director of Sarasota County Libraries, in the release. "Most start out with the intention of reading the books so they can get a ticket to the game, and in the end they win not only a great day at the ballpark, but also a lifetime of discovery through During the month of February, children ages reading." 6 and up who check out three or more books Last season, more than 130 Sarasota-area chilfrom any Sarasota County public library will dren completed the program and were eligible receive a Home Run Reading Card, a county to receive a free ticket to an Orioles spring news release says. After they finish the books training game.