York County Libraries are seeking entries for the 35th Annual “A Celebration of Poetry” contest. The contest is open to York and Adams County students in first through twelfth grade. Entrants are asked to write an original poem in their style of choice. According to organizers, submitting original artwork with poems is encouraged, but not required. The complete contest rules and official entry form are available at www.yorklibraries.org/poetry. Submissions will be accepted online from November 20, 2023 through January 19, 2024.
“Writing poetry allows students to use their imaginations and to express their thoughts and opinions creatively,” says York County Libraries Youth Services Director Mindy McDonnell. “Plus, by learning to work with language in a new way, they are actually becoming better readers too.”
Contest entries will be judged by a panel of local educators and poets who will select winners in the following age groups: Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8, Grades 9-10, and Grades 11-12. Winning poems will be published in a commemorative booklet. In addition, winners will be invited to read their poems during “A Celebration of Poetry” event from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on April 17, 2024. Anyone with questions about the contest should email ysdepartment@yorklibraries.org.
“We look forward to seeing the creativity of our York and Adams County students every year,” says York County Libraries President Robert F. Lambert. “Our annual poetry contest provides a fun outlet for area youth to grow and share their expressive writing skills.”
York County Libraries includes 13 libraries that provide the latest in print and digital information, bestsellers, Wi-Fi, story times, book discussions and over 50 databases. In addition to their extensive collection of 534,000 physical items, they offer over one million digital library materials for loan. All are available for free with a York County Libraries card. Community members without a card are invited to request one at yorklibraries.org at no cost.
