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Children's Competitions

Advantages

Encourages non members and their families to visit / join the Library
Enhances / heightens reading experience for existing members.

Frequency

Link in with major festivals or celebrations eg Christmas, Easter, Halloween, school holidays. Tie in with planned Library events and book displays on the same theme. Advertising / publicity will pull the different strands of the promotion together effectively. Do not plan too many competitions initially – they are time consuming and costly to finance. Instead plan a few which can be sustained and increased in subsequent years.

Age Ranges

Base the competition on nursery / school classes rather than ages so that children in the same class will be entering the same category i.e.: Pre School; P1 – 3; P4 – 7. or Pre School; P1 – 2; P3 – 4; P5 – 7.

The more categories you have the more prizes you will need.

Teens generally do not like to be linked with younger children so plan competitions for teens at a different time of year.

Types of Competition

These can range from basic colouring-in sheets aimed at pre-school / younger primary to elaborate art or writing competitions for older children. Colouring-in sheets can be adapted from colouring books or downloaded from the internet. Difficult areas can be tippexed out.

The competition should be suitable for the particular age range or children will not participate. They should appeal to both boys and girls.

Art competitions can include ‘design a book jacket’, ‘ make an Easter bonnet’, ‘decorate a hard boiled egg’ etc. Puzzle or word search books are an excellent source of ideas.

Sponsorship

Approach local businesses, clubs or community groups to see if they will sponsor the competitions. Sponsors should be included in the judging process and prize giving where their contribution can be formally acknowledged.

Publicity

Good publicity is vital to success. If there is a poor response, sponsors will be disappointed and less inclined to provide future support.

Display the competitions in the Library and circulate master copies to schools and playgroups. Offer to supply bulk numbers if teachers are unable to do this and to collect entries when complete. Allow schools 3 – 4 weeks to circulate and participate.

Judging of Entries / Prizegiving

Sponsors should be invited to judge the entries and present the prizes. They may require assistance from a local artist or writer. Local Councillors could also be included.

After the winning entries have been selected and a date for the presentation agreed with the various dignitaries, letters should be sent to the winners advising them of their win and informing them of the arrangements. Prizes can vary from book / gift tokens, books, art / craft sets, games compendiums, Easter eggs, Christmas selection boxes.

The local press should be invited to attend the presentation. Winning entries should be attractively displayed in the Library. Afterwards it is important to write and thank sponsors, Head Teachers etc for their assistance.