Kempsey Shire Libraries are calling on young artists to help bring this year’s Book Week theme to life, with a bookmark design competition open to children and teens aged three to 18.
The competition invites entrants to create up to three bookmark designs based on the national Book Week theme, “a symphony of stories”. Winning designs will be printed and handed out to library customers across all Kempsey Shire Library branches.
Children’s and Youth Services Librarian Melanie Webb said Book Week gave the library a chance to put children’s literacy in the spotlight.
“At Kempsey Shire Libraries we are focused on children’s literature and improving childhood literacy skills every day of the year, but Children’s Book Week is the one week of the year when this issue is in the spotlight and when children’s authors and illustrators are celebrated on the national stage,” Ms Webb said.
Alongside the bookmark competition, the library will host a Book Week themed storytime on Friday 21 August, with children encouraged to dress as their favourite book character. Themed book packs will also be available to borrow.
“I believe the theme represents the idea that literature can be an all-encompassing world for young people, that stories can come alive similar to music,” Ms Webb said.
The bookmark competition follows previous collaborations with Port Macquarie Hastings Library.
“We have run bookmark competitions in collaboration with Port Macquarie Hastings Library previously and they are always very popular, both with the young artists that participate and with the library customers that get to use the bookmarks,” Ms Webb said. “We felt it was the perfect way to celebrate creativity and the joy of reading.”
Entrants are encouraged to draw on their own reading experiences when designing their bookmarks.
“I would encourage participants to think about how reading makes them feel and stories that have come alive for them and sparked their imagination,” Ms Webb said.
Winners will be selected across different age categories to keep the competition fair for all entrants, with judges looking for imagination, creativity and an expression of the joy of reading.
Ms Webb said the number of winning designs would depend on how many entries the library received.
“To be determined. I will look at the amount of entries we receive and then determine how many are turned into bookmarks,” Ms Webb said. “Once we receive the designs I will send them onto the fabulous crew at Jabiru printing to turn them into bookmarks.”
Entry forms can be collected and submitted at any Kempsey Shire Library branch, the Mobile Library Van, or downloaded from the library website. Entries must be submitted by Saturday 8 August with the entrant’s name, age and contact number included.
Ms Webb encouraged parents and carers to let children take the lead on their designs.
“It’s always important to let kids explore their creativity and have their own ideas, even if you don’t understand them. Encourage them on their wild and wacky ideas and you’ll be surprised at what they come up with,” Ms Webb said.
She also had a message for teens who might be on the fence about entering.
“It is always a thrill to see something you designed at home on your own being enjoyed by other people so I would encourage everyone to have a go, especially teens as we always want more teen interaction in our library events,” Ms Webb said.
The bookmark template is available at library.kempsey.nsw.gov.au.
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