Art, writing programs draw teens to library system

Think today’s teens might be less inclined to connect with a library?

Some numbers this summer are suggesting otherwise — but it’s all about the approach.

Siouxland Libraries had a record 39 submissions to its Teen Art Contest, something that has grown each year, according to Lucy Steiger, library and teen program lead at the downtown branch.

In addition to the art competition, a short-story writing contest and a bookmark contest are drawing teens and their families.

“Teens are a tricky age group to get them connected to the library because they are so busy with school, jobs and extracurriculars,” Steiger said. “We find that doing these types of programs helps with their busy schedules as they are able to participate on their own time.”

The art contest is open to all teenagers sixth grade through high school residing in the service area, regardless of the medium they choose to use. Steiger said paintings and drawings are the most common submissions, but the library welcomes any form of art. The contest once received painted canvas  painted as a submission. This year, the library received beaded jewelry as an entry.

The library awards first, second and third place in each age category, a best-in-show honor and a people’s choice award. The art from the contest will remain on display through July. To see the full gallery, click here.

In the fall, the library holds a short-story writing contest to engage with teens.

“We’ve tried a few different variations with this one. One year, it was spooky-story themed, and another time it was fan-fiction,” Steiger said. “We find that having themes makes it easier to judge the stories as it’s easier to compare.”

Similar to the art contest, the writing contest is split into age groups, and winning stories are linked on the library website for people to read. Click here to see last year’s winners.

“As the winning bookmarks are widely distributed and the art is on display at the Downtown Library for a month, we’re brainstorming ways we could increase the reach of the winning writing pieces,” Steiger said.

In winter, the library engages with teens by holding a bookmark contest based on the following summer’s Summer Reading Program theme.

A panel of three library staff members forms the bookmark contest committee and selects finalists in middle school and high school categories. The general public votes for the finalists through online voting and in-person posters – selecting winners in each age group.

The library staff selects a “Staff Pick” and prints three bookmarks to promote the Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme was Stronger Together. 

The prize for the winners is usually related to art supplies, and they receive their printed bookmarks.

“I think that the contests help to bring awareness to the library as several of the teens entering the contest do not currently have a library card,” Steiger said. “Our hope with the artist reception is that it will bring them and their families into our library for the first time.”

As for whether programs lead to new card-carrying library visitors, it’s hard to tell, but overall use is up. As of June, there were 87,400 active library cardholders, up 16 percent year over year. Items circulated are up 9 percent.