Teen video contest

Teens can win up to $3,000 for their public or school librarythrough Why I Need My Library teen video contest Through April 18, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 areinvited to create original videos on why they think libraries are needednow more than ever for the Why I Need My Library videocontest. The winning teens will designate a public or school library toreceive cash prizes. Teens will submit one- to three-minute videos on YouTube. Thevideos can be live-action, animation, machinima or use a combination oftechniques, and teens can work in groups of up to six. Full contestguidelines and information on how to enter can be found on ALA'sadvocacy website, ilovelibraries.org. Prizes will be awarded in two age categories - ages 13 to15 and16 to18 - to a school or local public library selected by the winners.In each age category, two second place finalists will receive $2,000each for their selected library and three third place finalists willreceive $1,000 each for their selected library. The winning contestantor group of contestants from each age category will receive $3,000 fortheir selected library. In addition, each member of the winning groupwill receive a $50 gift card to an online bookseller. Winning videos will be showcased on ALA websites and at the 2011ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans (June 23-28). The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), theAssociation of Library Service to Children (ALSC), the Public LibraryAssociation (PLA) and the Young Adult Library Services Association(YALSA), all divisions of ALA, are co-sponsors of the Why I Need MyLibrary contest. Questions about the contest can be directed to WhyINeedMyLibrary@ala.org. Why I Need My Library is one of two initiatives that ALAPresident Roberta Stevens launched at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Theother, Our Authors, Our Advocates: Authors Speak Out for Libraries,calls on authors to highlight the key roles libraries and library staffplay in the economic, social and educational fabric of our nation. Moreinformation is available at www.ilovelibraries.org/ourauthorsouradvocates. http://www.ilovelibraries.org/whyineedmylibrary/WhyINeedMyLibraryGui.pdf