FVRLibraries wants a new look for library cards — and wants the public to be the designerUpdated 10 hours ago

As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District is inviting both children and adults to submit designs for new library cards. The theme is “Our Stories, Our Communities” and designs will be accepted in four age categories: 8 and under; 9-12; 13-19; and 20 and older. The deadline is June 30.

“It’s a way to connect people to the stories that belong to all of us,” said Julian Mendez, FVRLibraries communications and marketing director. “The library is here because the community is here, and so this is an opportunity to celebrate the communities that make our libraries thrive.”

Winning designs will be announced in early to mid-July and limited-edition cards will be issued to all FVRLibraries branches in September. The timing is set to coincide with the American Library Association’s Library Card Sign-up Month, Mendez said. Winners will receive a new library card with their design as well as a certificate of recognition. Designs will also be featured on FVRLibraries’ website, social media and library displays.

The library card design competition is open to residents of the FVRLibraries service area, which includes Clark County (except Camas, which is served by an independent library), Skamania County, Klickitat County, the Yale Valley Library District and Woodland. Entrants don’t need a library card to submit their designs. Only one submission can be accepted per person.

Cowlitz County residents who live outside the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District can enter, but they need to have a paid nonresident account. Residents of Camas are excluded because their taxes support the Camas Public Library; FVRLibraries cards are granted to Camasonians and Portlanders under a “reciprocal” agreement, as opposed to “residential” cards given to library district service area residents. (For more details about types of accounts, see fvrl.org/library-accounts.)

Designs should be the entirely original work of the submitter; that is, they can’t include or be based on preexisting characters, logos, intellectual property or any copyrighted material. Submissions can be created in any two-dimensional medium, such as drawing, painting, photography and digital design, but must be submitted in digital format. Complete details and submission forms can be found at fvrl.org/library-card-design. Entrants should include a 100-word statement describing their inspiration and how their design reflects the theme.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the art that comes in, whether it’s used as the final product or appreciated from the back end,” Mendez said. “We’re excited to see what our community shows us and understand the joy of their story and their connection to the library. It brings us a lot of joy to see that come to life through their art.”