2015 Friends of the Library Short Story Contest Winners

Students from Olean Intermediate Middle School and Hinsdale Central School took top prizes in the 2015 short story contest sponsored by the Friends of the Olean Public Library. Prizes were awarded to students in grades six and seven. The contest was also open to grades eight and nine, but no awards were given in those grades this year.

First prize winners were Rylie Gumtow of Olean, grade six, and Jackson Howell of Hinsdale, grade seven. Rylie told the story of Juliana, who dreams of joining the graceful ice skaters outside the library where she is working, Jackson’s story traces the impact one butterfly can have over history.

Each first prize winner will receive a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card.

Second place winners were Chrissy Martin and Jazlynn Knapp, both Olean, grade six, and Aarika Mattys, Hinsdale, grade seven. They will each receive a gift certificate to Seasons in the Olean Center Mall. Sarah Scott of Hinsdale received an honorable mention in grade seven.

Entries must feature at least two of four items set in the contest rules. The stories may be no longer than 350 words.

This year’s contest drew 55 entries. Rules for the 2016 competition will become available early next year. Teachers or students who are interested in taking part should contact Carole McNall at cmcnall511@gmail.com or via the library at 134 North 2nd Street, Olean.

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!

Communities Matter @the Olean Public Library

Communities matter @ your library: celebrate National Library Week April 14-20

(OLEAN, NY) –This week, the Olean Public Library  joins libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week, a time to highlight the value of libraries, librarians and library workers.

Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources. Often the heart of their communities, campuses or schools, libraries are deeply committed to the places where their patrons live, work and study.  Libraries are trusted places where everyone in the community can gather to reconnect and reengage with each other to enrich and shape the community and address local issues.

Librarians work with elected officials, small business owners, students and the public at large to discover what their communities needs are and meet them.  Whether through offering e-books and technology classes, materials for English-language learners, programs for job seekers or those to support early literacy, librarians listen to the community they serve, and they respond.

“Service to the community has always been the focus of the library,” said Lance Chaffee, Director. “While this aspect has never changed, libraries have grown and evolved in how they provide for the needs of every member of their community.”

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

The photos below highlight some of the ways that the library supports the community.

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!