Now @ MPL...

October 14-20, 2007

1. Poster Contest

Your library wants you to submit posters based on the theme “LOL @ Your Library.”

Entries by teens age 13-18 will be accepted October 1-12 at all Milwaukee Public Libraries. Posters must be done by hand (not computer-generated) in any other medium including: pencil, chalk, ink, marker, paints, etc. Posters must be submitted on 8.5 x 11” paper. Each entry will be judged on composition, quality of drawing, originality, and how closely it relates to the theme. Winning posters will be displayed on the library’s web page.

PRIZES
1st place – $50 Target gift card
2nd place – $25 Target gift card
3rd place – $15 Target gift card

2. ComedySportz @ Washington Park Library (2121 N. Sherman Blvd.)
Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:30 p.m.
Sit back and laugh, or take the opportunity to stand up and make people laugh during this interactive improv comedy performance suitable for all ages. The entire show is fueled by audience suggestions and participation.

3. Meet the Author: Sonia Hayes @ Center Street Library (2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.)
Saturday, October 20, 2007 3:00 p.m.
Sonia Hayes, author of Ms. Thang and Urban Goddess, will present a book discussion based on her novels entitled: Flavor of Love Adolescents age 12-18 will be invited to explore the concept of love in various relationships including friends, family, romantic and, most importantly, self-love.

Teen Poetry Contest @ MPL
Go to any library and pick up an entry form to submit your poem with.
Entries must be returned between April 1st and April 19th.

Prizes include:

$50 Gift Certificate -- 1st prize
$25 Gift Certificate -- 2nd prize
$10 Gift Certificate -- 3rd prize

For more details visit any of your local libraries.

For the past two years Wisconsin residents have turned to AskAway-a free online information service staffed by professional librarians 24 hours a day, seven days a week-for reliable answers to all sorts of questions. Now AskAway is encouraging young adult residents to share their positive experiences by creating and posting short videos as a part of the “I Love AskAway” YouTube video contest for teens. Click and scroll here for detailed entry instructions.

Entries should consist of an original video that depicts the AskAway chat service available to all state residents at the Milwaukee Public Library. Videos should be between 30 to 60 seconds long (longer videos may be edited), and must either be uploaded to YouTube or submitted on DVD or CD-ROM by July 31, 2008.

First prize is a $150 Best Buy gift certificate and second prize is a
$75 Best Buy gift certificate. Contest winners will be announced Sept.
2, 2008.

The Milwaukee Bucks Reading Challenge started on Jan 2nd and is almost coming to an end, Feburary 23. There is still time for teens to sign-up and complete the challenge!

Talk to your local Milwaukee Public Library librarian for more information and to sign-up for the Bucks Reading Challenge. The rules are simple!

Earn one point for each page you read from a book, magazine, or newspaper. Read 500 pages to earn 500 points by Monday, February 23 to become an All-Star Reader and receive a voucher for a free ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks game! You can pick one of two games to attend, either Friday, March 13th at 7:30 PM (vs Hornets) or Saturday March 21st at 7:30 PM (vs Trailblazers). All-Star Readers also have the opportunity for friends and family to purchase additional tickets for the game at a discounted price. And there are special opportunities for "Overtime" readers who read 750 pages or more! .

Milwaukee Teens, Sign up Today!!

Calling all teens ages 13-18! Stop into one of your participating neighborhood libraries on selected dates in March for the Super Smash Brothers Gaming Tournament. This gaming tournament is hosted by the Teen Advisory Board and sponsored by the Helen Bader Foundation. Teens can choose to compete at Bay View, Forest Home, Martin Luther King, Jr., or Mill Road for a chance to qualify for the finals at Central Library. Test your gaming skills for a chance to win bragging rights as well as prizes! Snacks will be provided, so come on over to get your game on!

The 2010 Annual Freedom Scholarship Essay Contest is now being offered to District 6 college-bound students to give them a chance to pay for their education in exchange for their statement on what the concept of "freedom" means to them.

A major objective of this contest is to help recent high school graduates in the Milwaukee area appreciate the sacrifice that African-American men and women have made, and to recognize their duty to continue the legacy of freedom through their activism and vigilance. Two five-hundred dollar scholarships will be awarded.

Use the following links to learn more about the Freedom Scholarship and to download an application:

Now that students are getting settled into the new school year I thought it would be a good time to highlight the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. These awards are given every year by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, which is a nonprofit organization with the mission of "identifying teenagers with artistic and literary talent." Teens in grades 7-12 are eligible and awards range from scholarships to recognition to exhibition and publication.

There are 30 different categories including comic art, drawing, fashion, film & animation, photography, jewelry, short story and video games. From what I can tell most of the deadlines are set for early next year, so there is time, but you need to go to their Website and put in your school's zip code to confirm your deadlines.

I would also like to mention how inspiring it is to look through the National Catalogs of the 2009 and 2010 award winners. After viewing the amazing work of so many of America's teens it's clear we are surrounded by very talented young people.

Are you between the ages of 13 and 18? Do you love to draw manga? Then show off your talent by entering the Young Adult Manga Drawing Contest! October 24, 2010 marks the deadline to enter your original manga drawing. All submissions will be displayed and the winners of the contest will be announced during Anime & Manga Night at the Capitol Library on November 16. Winners will receive gift cards!

Entries must be original. All entries must be submitted with a permission form signed by a parent or guardian. You must be a Milwaukee County resident in order to participate. If you have any questions, call (414)286-3011 for more information.

Giving gifts during the holiday season is rewarding for sure, but so is winning gifts, especially if you're a kid. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is offering kids 10 and under the opportunity to win children's books and cooking gear in their contest to answer the question: What kind of dinner should Santa have? They are looking for suggestions from kids, including menus, recipes and artwork, for a Food Section cover story. Check out the guidelines and tips for entries. The deadline is Wednesday, December 8.

On Janurary 8, 2011, Bay View Library will host the Young Writers and Illustrator's Workshop. This workshop is intended for children in 1st through 3rd grade. The workshop will teach children how to craft a story and also how to use illustrations to aid in telling the story. Children will be encouraged to create a story and enter it into MPTV's 17th annual PBS KIDS Go! Writer's Contest. Previous years winners' entries will be displayed.

Registration is required for this event due to limited space. Please call (414)286-3011 for more information or to reserve a space for your child.

What else can you do with moist, delectable, cream-filled sponge cake also known as a Twinkie? Find out for yourself at Twinkie Masterpieces, held for both kids and teens on January 10 and 12, 2011. This special kids club event will be held at Tippecanoe and Bayview, and the event for teens will also be held at both libraries. Kick- off the new year by making masterpieces out of twinkies and other edible materials. Participants will vote, and awards will be given for the craziest and most delicious looking!
For more information, or if you have any questions, call (414)286-3011.

Now is the time to join the 2011 Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Challenge! Students earn points towards great Bucks prizes by reading books, magazines, and newspapers!

The reading challenge gives students points for each page of a book, magazine, or newspaper they read. Newspapers and magazines have a 100-point limit, but there is no limit to the points you can score with books! Once a goal has been reached for a specific number of pages, students will receive a voucher for one free Bucks game ticket and the opportunity to purchase additional tickets at a discount.

All-Star Readers, those who score 500 points-for-pages, earn a free ticket to a Bucks home game and are invited to shoot a free throw on the Bucks Court after the game. Readers with 750 points-for-pages will have their names entered into a drawing for an official Milwaukee Bucks Autographed Basketball for each game!

For more information on the Milwaukee Bucks Library Reading Challenge call (414) 286-3520 or contact the Milwaukee Public Library at (414) 286-3011.

On Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m., the Teen Advisory Board is hosting a Super Smash Brothers Video Game Tournament and Video Game dance-off at the Central Library. Show off your gaming skills and your moves! Prizes will be awarded to the top three players in each tournament. In order to be eligible for prizes, contestants must register. Registration and open play will occur for the first 30 minutes of the event. This event is sponsored by the Helen Bader Foundation and Best Buy.

For more information, call (414)286-3011.

April is poetry month! If you are between the ages of 10-18, and love to write poetry, enter your poem in Milwaukee Public Library's poetry contest! You can submit your poem with an entry form at any Milwaukee Public Library or online. Entries will be accepted from March 28 until April 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Prizes will be awarded to top poems in three age categories: 10-12, 13-15, 16-18. The 1st place prize for all age groups is a $50.00 gift card. The 2nd place prize for all age groups is a $25.00 gift card, and the 3rd place prize for all age groups is a $15.00 gift card.
The winners will be announced during the Teen Poetry Slam at Atkinson Library on May 11. For more information, or for questions about the rules, call (414)286-3011.
This program is hosted by the Teen Advisory Board and sponsored by
the Helen Bader Foundation and Best Buy.

National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities nationwide. This year's theme is "Create Your Own Story @ Your Library®". MPL continues to "create its own story" this year by encouraging library customers to use the self checkout kiosks at all 12 neighborhood libraries by holding a raffle at weeks end. Each time an MPL customer uses the self checkout during the week for their library materials, they may complete a raffle entry form. A gift bag will be awarded to a lucky winner at each neighborhood library branch at the end of the week. The re-useable eco-friendly gift bag includes a complimentary membership to the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library, MPL postcards, a mug, flash drive, Bookworm print, and more. Following the first drawing, the 12 neighborhood winners will be eligible for an additional grand prize
drawing for a behind-the-scenes tour of Central Library.
NOTE: The raffle opportunity will not be offered at Central Library downtown, as the self checkout
option is not available at this time.

Enjoy Manga? Ever dream of becoming a mangaka (manga artist)? Now is your chance! Show off your talent by entering your favorite original manga drawing in Milwaukee Public Library's Manga Drawing Contest! The contest is for teens age 13-18 who live in Milwaukee County. Each individual can submit 2 entries at any Milwaukee Public Library between September 24 - October 24 to be eligible for prizes.

Prizes
Judges Category:
1st Place-$50 Gift card
2nd Place-$30 Gift Card
3rd Place-$20 Gift Card

People's Choice:
1st Place-$25 Gift card
2nd Place-$20 Gift Card
3rd Place-$15 Gift Card

The People's Choice prizes will be awarded at the Manga and Anime Night at MPL's Central Library on Tuesday, November 15th, from 5-7 p.m.

Complete the contest entry form, available here, to enter the contest or speak to a librarian to get a copy of the form.

Sponsored by the MPL Teen Advisory Board (TAB), funded by Best Buy.

Contest rules:
Must be between 13-18 years of age to participate. Limit of 2 entries per person. Entries must be original and submitted on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Submissions cannot be traced or copied from another artist's work. There is no guarantee that submissions will be returned. Participants must be Milwaukee County residents to be eligible. Individuals can win only one prize in this contest.

Take the Bucks Reading Challenge! This statewide reading program starts Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012. Students in grades 3-10 can sign up at any Milwaukee Public Library. When you read 500 or more pages by Feb. 28th, you earn a voucher to mail in for a free ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks game! (Parent or guardian must purchase a discounted ticket at the same time). When you read 750 pages or more by Feb. 28, you get the ticket and a chance to win an autographed Bucks basketball or be recognized on the court at halftime!

Anyone interested in finding out more information on the program can call the Central Library Children's Room at 286-3091 for more details, or stop in at any Milwaukee Public Library location for information and to sign up.

Do you have a way with words? Milwaukee youth ages 10-18 are encouraged to submit a poem with an entry form to compete in this year's Poetry Contest! Submit up to two poems between March 26 and April 26. Poems must be submitted online.

Prizes will be awarded to top poems in three age categories: 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. Winners will be announced at the Teen Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Showcase at Villard Square Branch on Tuesday, May 15, 6-7:30 p.m. and may be published on the MPL webpage and Facebook pages!

For prizes and contest rules visit the Teen Poetry Contest page on our website.

All programs hosted by the Teen Advisory Board and sponsored by Best Buy.

The deadline for entry in the teen poetry contest is one week away, enter now!

Do you have a way with words? Milwaukee youth ages 10-18 are encouraged to submit a poem with an entry form to compete in this year's Poetry Contest! Submit up to two poems between March 26 and April 26. Poems must be submitted online.

Prizes will be awarded to top poems in three age categories: 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. Winners will be announced at the Teen Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Showcase at Villard Square Branch on Tuesday, May 15, 6-7:30 p.m. and may be published on the MPL webpage and Facebook pages!

For prizes and contest rules visit the Teen Poetry Contest page on our website.

All programs hosted by the Teen Advisory Board and sponsored by Best Buy.