THEME: CELEBRATING 85 YEARS! Deadline: May 31, 2025
We need your creativity! Help HCLS celebrate 85 years by designing a library card. Winners will be available in September, for National Library Card Sign-up Month.
Entries judged on originality, design, theme expression, and reproducibility.
All entries must be clear and reproducible.
Consider what medium works best for you. Sparkle crayons, gel pens, and neon colors do not reproduce well.
Do not use trademarked or copyrighted images from TV shows, movies, or books or include computer or AI generated art.
If you include words, check for correct spelling and legibility. Keep text away from edge. In fact, keep all important design details away from the edges.
Dear adults: Please don’t “help” the young artists in your life with anything other than completing their information legibly on the entry form.
Return your design to any Howard County Library System (HCLS) branch by Saturday, May 31, 2025. One entry per person. Forms available at HCLS branches and at hclibrary.org.
One winner for each category (six total) will be chosen.
Photograph of Marley Dias courtesy of the American Library Association.
By Julie F.
Howard County Library System is proud to have so many devoted customers who love our library and all of our books, music, movies, online resources, classes, and events. But we have good news for anyone in your orbit who is not familiar with all the exciting things the library does: September is Library Card Sign-up Month! Share with your friends, families, neighbors, and colleagues that they, too, can make the most of all that an HCLS library card has to offer.
A new library card empowers learners and readers through the three pillars of HCLS: self-directed education, research assistance and instruction, and instructive and enlightening experiences. HCLS’ mission is to deliver high-quality public education for all, and much of that is delivered through your library card: whether Books, Movies & Music from our outstanding collection or Online Resources that provide free, self-directed education at your fingertips, your library card is a passport to all of our helpful virtual services. Whether you’re looking for Consumer Reports online or hoping to help your child prepare for SAT or AP exams, you can access all of these with a library card number and PIN. The possibilities are unlimited!
As the American Library Association notes, “Marley Dias, author, executive producer, and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, is joining the American Library Association and libraries nationwide in promoting the power of a library card this September. As honorary chair, Dias wants to remind the public that signing up for a library card provides access to technology, multimedia content and educational programming that transforms lives and strengthens communities. ‘A library card provides opportunity for discovery and access to a rich and diverse world. It empowers you to make change and experience new stories.'”
Julie is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch who finds her work as co-editor of Chapter Chats very rewarding. She loves gardening, birds, books, all kinds of music, and the great outdoors.
CHAPTER CHATS 