Younger patrons at the Niles Public Library District are competing in an essay contest for the notable distinction of becoming a library board president for a day.
It’s a new library contest for kids, said Sasha Vasilic, public relations and marketing supervisor for the library district. Children in grades Kindergarten through eight are invited to fill out an entry form located in the KidSpace department and write five to 10 sentences about why they’re best suited to lead the library district as its top elected official, he said.
Eligible participates include students with a Niles Public Library District card or those who attend a school served by the district, including all East Maine District 63 schools. Children began submitting their essays Sept. 1. The contest will run through Oct. 23.
The winner will be announced on Election Day, Nov. 8, and they must be able to attend a board meeting scheduled for Nov. 16, Vasilic said.
Vasilic said he wanted to host a more topical contest for the library’s youth patrons this year, noting how the idea was inspired by the ongoing national campaigns for president and other offices.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done it and I’m not sure if any library I know of has done such a thing,” he said.
The contest works especially well for Niles, he said, because unlike other libraries, the district elects a library board and a president is chosen to oversee board operations.
More Top Picks Bushes Berry
The winner will be recognized at the November board meeting, receive a symbolic “key to the library,” reserved seats for a special library event, select their favorite books, movies and music for a display in their honor and choose a family movie that will play on the library’s big screen.
“You don’t know how successful or cool something will be until you unleash it,” Vasilic said. “We’ve gotten a dozen responses (to the contest) and it’s only been two weeks.”
Anyone interested in participating in the contest can download the entry form at www.nileslibrary.org/kids. All essays should be dropped off in the KidSpace department.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelancer reporter for Pioneer Press.