By Khalida Sarwari
The Saratoga Library is commemorating its 10-year anniversary in its current building, and to celebrate the event the library is inviting members of the community to design a bookmark that expresses the theme, “Saratoga Library–Heart of the Community.”
The winning designs will be distributed at an anniversary event on May 18.
This is the first year the library is sponsoring such a contest, community librarian Gayathri Kanth said.
“We’ve been thinking about something to celebrate our anniversary,” Kanth said. “I thought, somehow we’ve got to commemorate this and have the public involved.”
The contest is open to children and adults. Designs may be either horizontal or vertical, and any 2D art medium may be used, such as crayons, markers or colored pencils. The design can include words and numbers. Copyrighted characters, art and logos are not allowed, however, nor are computer-generated images or 3D materials.
Bookmarks will be judged on originality, representation of the theme, design, appropriateness and reproducibility. Judges will select one winner from each of the five age groups: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, high school and adult. The winners will be informed by the end of April but will receive their prize–a $25 gift card to a local merchant–at the anniversary event.
On that day, the library will distribute bookmarks with the winning designs to each attendee. Depending upon the number of designs the library receives, the rest will likely be posted in the copy room of the library.
Kanth said she expects at least 500 people to attend the May 18 event, which will be “fair-style” with a cake-cutting ceremony and a variety of activities planned both indoors and outdoors.
Outside, there will be food trucks, at least 15 booths, a fire engine, a bookmobile, a bounce house, an obstacle course for older kids and games for children and teens.
Inside, attendees will have their choice of dropping by an “e-gadget petting zoo,” where they can learn about different tablets and electronic items and determine which ones best suit their needs. Another room will house local musical acts, including school groups. There will also be a Friends of the Saratoga Library used book sale, a scavenger hunt for kids and additional children’s activities.
A meet-and-greet will be held in the community room with local authors, poets and illustrators. And for history enthusiasts, the library will also display a timeline depicting the history of the library, complete with old photos and records.
The event, which is scheduled to take place from noon to 4 p.m., will be free and open to all.
The deadline to submit bookmark designs is 5 p.m. on April 21. Entry forms are available online or at the children’s and adult services desks at the library. For more information about the contest, call 408.867.6126 and ask for the reference desk.
Bookmarks mark the occasion as library turns the page on 10 years
