The Daphne Public Library invites local students to participate in the upcoming 2023 Back-to-School Bookmark Contest.

The contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Daphne Public Library and is open to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. There will be two divisions for competition: K-5 in Division I and 6th-12th grades in Division II.

The library invites local teachers, school librarians, educational specialists and homeschool educators to use this contest to inspire creativity and the love of reading. Entries may be submitted either as a class assignment or by individual students.

The 2023 Back-to-School Bookmark Contest will offer a class/homeschool teacher incentive. The class/or homeschool teacher of the overall first place winners will receive a $25 gift card.

Each entry should include the child's first/last name, grade, school name and home phone number on the back of the bookmark. The bookmarks should be made from cardstock. Bookmark designs should relate to reading, a specific book, the library, a favorite character or favorite author. Neatness and originality are important elements in this contest. Digital art work will not be accepted. One entry per student.

The contest entries are due on Sept. 22.

First-, second- and third-place awards will be determined for each school grade. The overall top three winners in each division will be chosen based on talent and design, independent of the age group, and will have their bookmark entry framed and displayed for one month in the Daphne Library Atrium. Additionally, the first-place overall winners will receive copies of their bookmarks for family, friends and classmates. All grade level winners will receive ribbons and the first-, second- and third-place overall winners and overall winners from Divisions 1 and 2 will receive gift cards.

For more information, call Louise Youngblood at (251) 620-2503 or Rhonda Moses at (251) 620-2508.