Bay County Library Card Design Contest – Official Rules
Contest Dates:
September 1 – October 31, 2025 Extended! New Deadline November 30, 2025
Theme:
Designs must represent Bay County and the Bay County Library System (BCLS) in some way.
Rules & Guidelines:
Eligibility & Entries
- One entry per person.
- There are four age categories:
- Ages 0–6
- Ages 7–12
- Ages 13–17
- Ages 18+
- One winning design from each age category will be printed on limited edition library cards.
- You must be a Bay County resident.
Design Requirements
- Your design must fit inside a 3.25” x 2” box (standard library card size).
- Designs may include drawings, digital art, or photography.
- Words are allowed but should not interfere with BCLS branding. Note: text and the BCLS logo may be placed over the design if selected.
- No copyright images or characters may be used. All digital elements and images must either be free use or the artist’s own work.
- Designs must be original and family-friendly, representing Bay County and the library.
Submission Methods
Hand-drawn entries:
- Use markers, colored pencils, ink pens, or other bold media to ensure your design will print successfully.
- Draw your design inside the box on the official entry form.
- Drop off your entry at any Bay County Library branch or the Bookmobile.
Digital art or photography entries:
- Email your design to kfreeman@baycountylibrary.org with the subject line:
“Library Card Design Contest Entry.” - File formats accepted are PDF, PNG, and JPG and must be less than 25 MB in size
- Include in the email: your full name, age group, and contact phone number.
Deadline
- All entries must be submitted by closing on November 30, 2025.
- Late entries will not be considered.
Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated on:
- How well the design represents Bay County and/or the Bay County Library System.
- Creativity, originality, and visual appeal.
- Suitability for printing on a library card (clarity, boldness, and formatting).
Winners & Prizes
- One winner will be chosen from each age category (0–6, 7–12, 13–17, 18+).
- Winning designs will be featured on limited edition BCLS library cards.
- Winners will be contacted by phone in December 2025.
Additional Rules
- BCLS reserves the right to make minor edits to winning designs to ensure proper printing.
- By submitting an entry, participants grant BCLS the right to use their design in promotional materials, social media, and for printing on library cards.
- Staff and immediate family members of BCLS employees are not eligible to win.