Library Card Design Contest

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and we need your help celebrating! The Lakeland Public Libraries invite you to design our next library card. The selected artworks will be featured on official library cards for use throughout Polk County.

Dates:

• Deadline for submissions: Monday, August 31, 2026
• Winners chosen and contacted: Friday, September 4, 2026
• Winner announced: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
• Library cards available for distribution: End of September 2026

Participant Groups:

• Children ages 3-12
• Teens ages 13-17
• Adults ages 18+

One winner will be chosen from each age group, with their design featured on a library card, and will be recognized on the Lakeland Public Library’s social media accounts and digital newsletters.

Eligibility:

The Library Card Design Contest is open to current library cardholders only. Participants, or guardians if under the age of 18, must have an existing library card or sign up for a library card. See our Get a Library Card page to learn how to get a library card today.

Entry Rules:

• Submissions must be larger than 3.75” x 2.45”.
• All submissions must be accompanied by the completed entry form. Forms are available at any Lakeland Public Library location and on our website.
• Artwork can be handmade or digital but not AI-generated. Digital submissions must have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and submitted in JPEG or PNG format.
• Artwork must be 2D for printing purposes.
• Artwork can be landscape or portrait orientation.
• Submitted artwork must be inoffensive and appropriate for all ages to be considered for judging. Artwork that is found to be offensive or inappropriate for the contest will not be considered.
• Submitted artwork must be original, previously unpublished, and free of copyright restrictions. Copyrighted graphics and AI-generated images will not be accepted for judging.
• The deadline to submit entries is close of business August 31, 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.
• Submit entries in person at any of the three Lakeland Library locations or email to cassandra.walters-shantal@lakelandgov.net.

IF AN ENTRY AND ARTWORK DO NOT COMPLY WITH THESE ENTRY RULES, THEY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Judging:

Library staff will judge submissions and select winners based on creativity and artistic quality.

AFTER YOU SUBMIT:

• The winner(s) will be contacted and announced by September 8, 2026.
• The winning design(s) will be used as special limited-edition library cards and may also be used on library card promotional materials, including posters, bags, bookmarks, forms and flyers and on the library's website.
• All rights to the artwork will belong to the Lakeland Public Libraries.
• Winning artwork may need to be modified to comply with City of Lakeland branding guidelines.

Download a copy of the Library Card Design Contest Entry Form