Library Card Design Contest

About the Contest

ELIGIBILITY

The contest is open to all Montgomery County residents or anyone attending a Montgomery County School
- Kids (Ages 0-12)
- Teens (Ages 13-17)
- Adults (Ages 18+)
Only one entry per participant.
Submissions must be the original work of the entrant and may not include AI or computer-generated elements.

THEME

This theme is: “Unearth A Story”
Create designs that reflect the joy of reading, the Dayton community, information and inspiration, or another design that is appropriate for a general audience

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Design Format:

Artwork must be submitted on a template provided by the Library (available here or at a Branch).
Accepted file formats for digital submissions: JPEG or PNG.
Designs should be 300 dpi resolution to ensure high print quality.

Physical Submissions:

If submitting a physical design, it must be on the template.
Use any medium (e.g., colored pencils, markers, digital art) as long as it is flat and scannable.

Submission Deadline:

All entries must be submitted by July 1, 2026.
Late submissions will not be accepted
Submit paper entries at the Ask Me Desk of any Dayton Metro Library location or using the submission form on this page.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

Creativity: Originality and artistic expression.
Relevance to Theme: How well the design reflects the theme “Unearth A Story”
Visual Impact: Overall appeal and clarity of design.
Usability: How well the design will function as a Library card (e.g., readability, appropriate use of space).

JUDGING PROCESS

Dayton Metro Library staff will review all entries.
There will be three winners, one from each age category: kids, teens, adults.
Winners will be announced on July 31, 2026.

PRIZES

Winners will be invited to participate in an acknowledgement ceremony at their home Branch.
Winners may receive a small token of appreciation for their entry.

CONTEST RULES

All designs must be original and created by the participant.
Designs should not contain copyrighted material, offensive language, inappropriate images, or AI-generated components.
By entering the contest, participants grant the Library the right to use, reproduce, and publish their designs for promotional purposes.
The Library reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the winning design to fit printing specifications.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions or additional information, please contact Allison Knight at AKnight@DaytonMetroLibrary.org or at 937.496.8507 or Claudine Bennett at CBennett@DaytonMetroLibrary.org or at 937.496.8586. We can't wait to see your creative designs!

Enter our Library Card Design Contest

Submissions Accepted: May 1 - July 1, 2026
Winners Announced: July 31, 2026

In conjunction with the Summer Reading Challenge and National Library Card Sign Up Month, Dayton Metro Library is hosting a Library Card Design Contest! Patrons can showcase their creativity by designing a unique Library card. Winning designs will be featured as an official, limited edition Library card, available September 1 - 30, 2026 in all Library Branches.

Download the Design Template