Friends of the Olean Library Poetry Contest

This year’s contest will be for students in grades 9-12. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best poem at each grade level at each participating school. Poems that receive honorable mention will receive a gift at the awards ceremony. If your school is not participating in the contest, you can still drop off your poem at the library. Make sure you include contact information.

The rules are simple:

• Students must be in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.
• Each entry must be typed in 12 point Times New Roman font and include the author’s full name, grade, English teacher and school at the bottom right of each page.  If you don’t have access to a computer, please come to the library and use one of the public access computers.
• The work must be original.  Please do not submit another’s work.  Such entries will be disqualified.

All entries must be received at the Olean Public Library by Friday, November 21st.  Drop them off marked to the attention of the Friends Poetry Contest at the Reference Desk at the OPL or mail to Friends Poetry Contest, Olean Public Library, 134 N 2nd St., Olean, NY 14760.

Results will be announced before the end of the year and awards will be presented at a ceremony held at the library on December 30th.  Even if you don’t win, you’re invited to the ceremony to read your work as there will be an open reading and refreshments to follow the presentations.

Some tips for writing your poem:

• Don’t let nonsensical rhyme dictate the flow of the poem.
• Make your work interesting by using imagery and sensory details.
• Write about what you know.

Friends of the Olean Library 2014 Short Story Contest

1.  Entries must feature, in an imaginative way, AT LEAST TWO of the following four items: the library cat, a librarian, a DVD, a display at the library.  You may use all four, but you do not have to do so.  (This rule is changed from previous years.)

2.  Permissible length is 350 words or less.  Please note: We do reject stories for excessive length or because they do not meet the requirements in number 1.

3.  This contest is open to students enrolled in grades 6 through 9.  Participants are limited to one entry and are expected to do their own work. 

4.  Entries must be typed on 8 1/2 X 11″ paper.  Please choose a font that is easily readable and a font size no smaller than 11 pt.  Students without other access to a computer are welcome to use those at the Olean Public Library. 

5.  Mechanical correctness — spelling, punctuation, and grammar — is an important factor in the judging. 

6.  Entrant’s name, grade, and school must be printed – legibly! – in the lower right corner of each page.  Home-schooled students are welcome, as are students in classes which do not chose to participate as a class.  In both cases, please make sure you include your home address, again legibly printed, on the last page of the story.

7.  All entries must be received at the Olean Public Library by Friday, March 14, 2014.  Whether mailed or delivered in person, envelopes should be addressed to Friends Short Story Contest.  Mailed entries should be sent in care of the Olean Public Library, 134 N. 2nd St., Olean, NY 14760.

8. Winners will be notified through their English teacher of through mail to their homes.  The awards ceremony will be scheduled at the Olean Public Library shortly after the winners are notified.

Thanks for your participation.  And good luck!

2013 Friends of the Olean Library Short Story Contest Guidelines

1.  Entries must feature, in an imaginative way, AT LEAST TWO of the following four items: wi-fi, children (in the library), a local history book, an overdue book. You may use all four, but you don’t have to do so. (This rule is changed from previous years.)

 

2.  Permissible length is 350 words or less.  Please note: We do reject stories for excessive length or because they do not meet the requirements in number 1.

 

3.  This contest is open to students enrolled in grades 6 through 9.  Participants are limited to one entry and are expected to do their own work.

 

4.  Entries must be typed on 8½ x 11 paper.  Please choose a font that is easily readable, like the one you are currently reading (Arial) and a type size no smaller than 11 pt.  Students without other access to a word processor are welcome to use those at the Olean Public Library.

 

5.  Mechanical correctness — spelling, punctuation and grammar — is an important factor in the judging.

 

6.  Entrant’s name, grade, school, AND TEACHER’S NAME must be printed – legibly! – in the lower right corner of each page. Home-schooled students are welcome; use the name of the person doing most of the teaching as your teacher’s name.

 

7.  All entries must be received at the Olean Public Library by Monday, March 4.  Whether mailed or delivered in person, envelopes should be addressed to Friends Short Story Contest.  Mailed entries should be sent in care of the Olean Public Library, 134 N. Second St., Olean, N.Y. 14760.

 

7.  Winners will be notified through their English teacher.  The awards ceremony will be scheduled at the Olean Public Library shortly after winners are notified.

 

Thanks for your participation.  And good luck!

Friends of the Olean Public Library Bookmark Contest

The Bookmark Contest is underway.  Judging will take place on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.  A reception will take place in February 2011 to honor the winners.

Thank you to all who are participating!