By Khalida Sarwari
Remember when all one could do at the library was wander through aisles of bookshelves or study for finals or … take a nap? Fast-forward to 2012, when libraries are stockpiled with more
than just paperbacks and hardcovers. Who knew you could download books or check out games for the Wii,PlayStation and Xbox at the Campbell Library?
This year, the library is the theme of the Civic Improvement Commission’s annual student poster contest. The contest, titled “Discover Campbell Library,” is open to all fifth-grade students who either reside in or attend school in Campbell.
The commission, which oversees areas related to the city’s beautification, history, public art, youth and senior citizens and makes recommendations to the city council in those areas, wanted to highlight the wide range of services the library offers, said Al Bito, Campbell assistant city manager.
“Part of [the commission’s] goals for this fiscal year is to raise awareness about the wonderful services the Campbell Library offers to residents and citizens of all ages,” Bito said. “By selecting the library as a theme, the commission wanted young people to know about the services available to them at no cost.”
Some of those services include media materials, reading programs, publications on a variety of interests, Internet access, video games, DVDs, downloadable books and Brainfuse, an online homework assistance program.
Students are encouraged to draw or paint from their imagination a depiction of what the library means to them. They are free to use items watercolors, felt pens, colored pens, pencils, crayons or pastels. All artwork must be hand drawn.
Entries must additionally include, in five sentences or less, an explanation of the poster’s content on the back, as well as a completed 2012 poster contest application. Poster dimensions must be 22 inches by 14 inches on poster board or equivalent material.
Once all entries are received, the commission members will select the top posters based on neatness, legibility, grammar and spelling, adherence to the contest’s theme and representation of Campbell.
The grand prize winner will receive a mountain bike from Wheel Away Cycle Center on E. Hamilton Avenue, along with gift certificates from local merchants. In past years, prizes have included running shoes, iPods, movie passes and apparel donated by local retailers.
Contest winners will be presented with their awards at a Civic Improvement Commission meeting on May 10. The winning posters will also be showcased in the library and all entries will
be displayed at the May 18 downtown Art Walk.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 28 posters had been submitted, but there is still time for those struggling with artist’s block. The deadline for the contest is April 2. Entries may be submitted to the city manager’s office at 70 N. First St., Campbell,CA, 95008. Applications can be picked up from any local school or at the city manager’s office.
