This year the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library will proudly host its 23rd annual Bookmark Contest Awards Ceremony. The theme of this year’s bookmark contest is also the theme of the Library’s 2020 Summer Reading Program: “Imagine Your Story.” Kindergarten through Fifth-grade students from every elementary school in Lenoir County were invited to participate in this year’s contest. They were asked to design a black and white bookmark related to the “Imagine Your Story” theme. Ten schools took advantage of the opportunity, turning in 1892 bookmarks which was an increase from the 1500 bookmarks collected last year.

The “Imagine Your Story” theme brought out a lot of creativity in local students. Missy Hull, a 4th grader from Southwood Elementary School, one of this year’s young artists, said “making [her bookmark] was fun” and that it was “complicated and a challenge.” Princesses, books, libraries, hearts, and even Kobe Bryant made an appearance in this year’s bookmark collection.

Even while designing around a theme, whatever is on the students’ minds the day they are drawing their bookmarks tends to come out on the page. The theme, however, helps to give them a direction and to get them excited for the upcoming Summer Reading Program at the library.

The contest is divided into four categories: Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade, 3rd and 4th Grade, and 5th Grade. Each category is awarded 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, and 7 Honorable Mentions with 40 total prizes awarded. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges at the library. Chanda Platania, the library’s Teen Librarian and one of this year’s judges said “choosing a winner is always difficult. I know how hard the kids work on their bookmarks and how much the contest means to them.”

Noa Evans, now 18, recounts winning the contest when he was eight-years-old, “At first I wasn’t interested in the contest. Our teacher made us do it. Once I realized how important it was to the library, I gave it my best. I was surprised that I won, but it really helped my confidence.”

The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library Bookmark Contest Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m.in Schecter Auditorium. It is open to the public and will be a celebration of the 40 winners and their families. All of the winning bookmarks will be professionally printed on colorful cardstock to be distributed at the awards ceremony and at the library throughout the year. The back of each bookmark will list the event, the year, the award, the division, the name of the winner, and their school. Winners will also be awarded a book, a certificate, and 1st, 2nd , and 3rd place winners will receive an Amazon gift card.

For more information about the bookmark contest or children’s programming, please check out the library website at www.neuselibrary.org or call the Children’s Department at 252-527-7066 ext.