National Libraries Week: Our Contest!

The staff of YOUR Alexandria Campus Library is gearing up to celebrate one of our favorite times of the year: National Library Week. This annual celebration was started in 1958 by the American Library Association (ALA) as a way to promote library use and engagement.

So why should our patrons care about this national event organized by librarians? The staff of YOUR Alexandria Library thinks National Library Week is worth observing because of the central place that libraries hold in our communities. This week serves as a time to for libraries to enter into a dialogue with our patrons about the critical contributions school, public, academic, private and government libraries make to all aspects of American life. It also serves as a fun way for libraries to increase their visibility and highlight the materials and services they make available to their patrons.

YOUR Alexandria is observing this important week with a Book Spine Poetry contest open to all NOVA Alexandria Campus students, faculty, and staff.

Short, sweet, and to the point. The beauty of the book spine poetry as form

Entry in our contest is easy. Simply enter the Alexandria Campus library and start stacking the provided books so that their titles read together create a poem. Poems of all types are welcome. We're looking for funny, clever, or moving poetry that will get our patrons thinking about the range of books we offer. Creativity will be rewarded handsomely. The grand prize is a $40 Barnes and Noble gift card, and the three runners up will all  receive $20 Barnes and Noble cards.

When you're happy with your work of genius simply email (lkhoury@nvcc.edu), tweet (@lorainALlibrary), or instagram (lorainallibrary) your book spine poem to the library to enter the contest.

Click here to access a Calgary Public Libraries gallery for more inspiration

 Entries are due by 5 pm on Friday, April 18th. Library staff is responsible for the first round of judging and will select our top five favorites to go onto the second round of selection. Public voting on the top five entries will begin on Monday, April 21st. Public votes will be tabulated on the white board nearest the Circulation desk.

All received entries will be published through our social media portals and on the library blog. Winners will be contacted on Friday, April 26th so they can collect their prizes.

So come celebrate the wonderful place libraries hold in your life by entering YOUR Alexandria Library's Book Spine Poetry Contest. We cannot wait to see the poetry our patrons produce.