Kids and teenagers are invited to show their creativity and create the next two library cards for people to use throughout Pierce County. The free design contest runs through April 14.

“Who wouldn’t want a library card designed by one of our community’s creative, talented kids?” Pierce County Library Executive Director Georgia Lomax said. “These student-designed cards will be in the hands, pockets and wallets of people all over Pierce County, because we issue about 60,000 new cards every year.”

Kids between the ages of 5 and 11 and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 – who either live or attend school in Pierce County – are eligible to enter. Students may pick up entry forms at any Pierce County Library or online at cardcontest.pcls.us. For the contest, artists must submit entry forms with their library card design at a Pierce County Library or by mail to: Library Card Contest, Pierce County Library System, 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma, WA 98446-2215.

In this area, the Pierce County library system has branches in Bonney Lake, Sumner and Buckley.

The top artist’s name will appear along with the artwork on the printed card, which will be available throughout Pierce County.

Professional artists will review entries and select finalists for the two age categories. The public will select the winners from the finalists by voting online through the library’s website later this year.

The child- and teen-designed library cards will be available for free, in addition to other designs the library system offers. The student-designed cards are expected to be available starting in October 2018.