UP Teens: You Can Design The Next Library Card

Hey UP teens - here's a pretty cool contest courtesy of the Pierce County Library System.

If you're feeling an artistic itch, this might be a fun way to scratch it. Here are the details courtesy of the libraries:

TACOMA - Teenagers will put forth their artistic talents to create the next Pierce County Library card during the Library’s card design contest.

“We issue tens of thousands of library cards a year,” said Neel Parikh, executive director for Pierce County Library. “This contest is a great opportunity for teen artists to vie for their art to be featured on a card that will go into the hands, pockets and wallets of people throughout Pierce County.”

The free design contest runs from Wednesday, April 20, through Tuesday, May 31. Any teenager in grades 7 – 12 living or attending school in Pierce County is eligible to enter.

Teenagers may get entry forms at any Pierce County Library or online at www.piercecountylibrary.org. Teens may submit their entries to any of 17 Pierce County Libraries and three bookmobiles or by mail to Teen Library Card Contest, Pierce County Library System, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, WA  98446-2215.

Art must be original and not published elsewhere. Submitted art becomes the property of Pierce County Library. The Library will retain all submissions. The teen artist’s name will appear along with the artwork on the printed card.

Professional artists will review entries and select finalists. The public will select the winner from the finalists by voting online at the Library’s website this summer.

The teen-designed library cards will be available for free, in addition to other designs that the Library offers. Teenagers and people of all ages may get the new card, which will be available during the Library’s fifth annual card drive in October 2011.

With a Pierce County Library card people have access to an array of free services, including:

• More than 1.3 million books, movies and more.
• Professional online tutors to help students with homework and adults write resumes, apply for jobs, gain financial literacy and more.
• Songs and audiobooks and e-books to download to computers and portable devices.
• Time reserved on a computer for up to 48 hours in advance and for up to two hours of use.
• Credible, reliable information from e-sources of subscription magazines and more.