At My Library Creative Essay Contest - Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to enter the competition?

No purchase necessary in order to participate in the contest.

Who is eligible to participate?

The contest is open to anyone 14 years of age or older at time of entry. Residents between the ages of 14 and 17 years old are eligible to participate in the Contest but will be required to submit a signed parental consent form in order to collect any prizes won.

How do I enter?

To submit your essay, follow the directions located here. All multimedia submissions must be first uploaded to YouTube before e-mailing a URL to the multimedia essay for the contest. All submissions must be e-mailed to atyourlibrary@yahoo.com by the submission deadline. See #7 and #8 of the Official Rules for further details.

Is there a limit?

Yes, text based submissions must be a minimum of 150 words and a maximum of 600 words. Multimedia submissions must be a minimum of one minute long and a maximum of two minutes long. Be sure to submit all text-based entries in Word Doc format. For more information on submission guidelines click here.

Is there any advantage to aligning my subject matter thematically with libraries?

The primary requirement is to share your personal experience at libraries. There are no creative restrictions on content beyond this. For some Creative Guidelines click here or you can refer to #7 and #8 of the Official Rules for further details.

Where are the essay guidelines? I can’t find them on the Web site!

Click here for further information on the Essay Guidelines.

This competition is about releasing your creativity and expressing your experience at libraries. The contest is open to everyone and is not based solely on talent alone. Please do not hesitate to submit your work, regardless of your experience with writing, photography or video. We look forward to seeing a variety of work.

Am I allowed to submit more than one entry in the competition?

All applicants may submit up to two unique essays to the competition. If more than two essays are submitted, the last essays received will be discarded.

Are we allowed to collaborate with other people on our essays?

Yes, however, one person must represent the group in the contest by submitting the design via his or her e-mail account. Submissions will be made using the same guidelines, and in the event that a collaborative group should win the Grand Prize or People’s Choice Award only one set of prizes will be rewarded regardless of group size. You must decide how to split the rewards. You can submit no more than two unique designs, with or without a group, but only one design will be eligible for the second round.

When is the submission deadline?

The deadline for submitting designs is 11:59 PM CST December 7, 2009.

How strict are you going to be with the deadline?

Strict. Judging starts immediately after submission closes, so we can’t make any exceptions for designs that arrive late.

What is atyourlibrary.org?

atyourlibrary.org is the public Web site for the American Library Association’s public awareness campaign. The site offers readers fresh content on the latest information on what’s available at local libraries.

How long will it take for my design to appear on the atyourlibrary.org site?

After an essay is submitted, it may be pending approval for 2-7 days before it is uploaded to the At My Library Creative Contest page. Essays uploaded into the group will qualify as a submission into the competition and serve as proof of receipt by the internal competition team.

Can I have my essay removed from the site if I change my mind about entering the competition?

Yes, if you decide you would like your essay removed from the competition you can e-mail us at atyourlibrary@yahoo.com telling us so. We will remove your design from the competition pool. Please allow 2-7 days for your essay to be removed.

How are the winning submissions chosen?

Submissions are judged on the following criteria: Concept, Originality, and Creativity; Relevance to contest theme; Completeness of essay and Legality and Feasibility. Please refer to #10 in the Official Rules for further details.

How long does it take for a submission to be up for voting for the People’s Choice award?

Essays will be uploaded to the At My Library Creative Essay contest site as they are received. Voting will begin October 30 and go until December 14. Entrants will be notified with further details so they can vote on essays and pass the information along to friends and family to vote as well.

How do I vote on my favorite essay for the People’s Choice award?

To vote for your favorite essay for the People’s Choice award you must have or sign up for an atyourlibrary.org account (it’s free). Then, simply log on atyourlibrary.org and click on the “thumbs up icon” below the essay(s) you want to vote for. Voting ends 11:59 CST on Monday, December 14, 2009, at which point the essays will be removed and votes will be tallied.

When will I find out if my piece is a finalist?           

Judges will be reviewing submissions and making their selections shortly after the submission deadline. We will be notifying all the participants via the e-mail address used for submission. Therefore it’s important to notify us if your e-mail address changes or becomes inactive. You have 5 days from the date of notification to respond with necessary documents. Please refer to #10 in the Official Rules for further details.

What do I receive for a winning design?

The Grand Prize Winner will receive $350, have their essays featured on the atyourlibrary.org homepage. The People’s Choice Award Winner will receive $100. Please refer to #9 in the Official Rules for further details.

How do I redeem my prize?

The Grand Prize Winner and People’s Choice Award Winner will receive their prizes in the mail shortly after December 23, 2009.

Will I get credit for creating the essay?

Of course! You will receive full credits and your name will be included on the published essay.