Contests

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target, is again sponsoring the Letters About Literature competition for young people. In this competition, a young person writes a letter to an author as though she or he were having a conversation with the author. The letter should be about a piece of fiction or poetry that affected the young person in some way. It should be a correspondence, not just a compliment on the work.

The contest is open to students enrolled in grades 4-12 during the 2011-2012 school year. There are three competition levels: Level 1 (Grades 4-6); Level 2 (Grades 7-8); and Level 3 (Grades 9-12). The statewide winners each receive a $50 Target gift card and additional prizes, and are able to compete at the national level where they might win a $500 Target gift card and a $10,000 grant for their home library.

Letters must be submitted by Friday, January 6, 2012, using the required entry coupon, available online and in the Youth area of the Troy Public Library.

Winning entries from last year can be viewed here.

Have you ever noticed most of the awards given to books for teens are chosen by adults? The Teens' Top Ten is different. This national contest gives teens a chance to choose their own favorite books, once a year. Twenty-five young adult titles published the previous year are nominated. Any reader ages 12 to 18 can vote online at: http://www.ala.org/teenstopten

Voting begins on August 15 and ends September 16, so go choose your favorite today. Winners will be announced during Teen Read Week in October. You can check out the full list of this year's nominees here, or stop by the Troy Librarys Teen area and check out a display of this year's nominated titles and past winners.

Enter to win a $1,500 scholarship for your child through the Destination College Savings program, offered annually each summer by the Library of Michigan Foundation and Michigan's two 529 programs, Michigan Education Savings Program and Michigan Education Trust.

You can enter by visiting the Troy Library's Youth Services area to pick up an entry form. Fill out the bottom portion and drop the postage paid card in the mail. Each submission also enters the Troy Public Library for a chance to win $1,000.

Entries must be postmarked by August 12. Your child must be 13 or younger to qualify for the sweepstakes.

(Photo: twistyfoldy.net)

Troy Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Program starts Wednesday, June 22. You can register online here for a chance to win a weekly prize (a $25 gift certificate to the Somerset Collection) or our grand prize (a $50 gift certificate to the Somerset Collection).

If you have not read an eBook nor listened to an eAudiobook yet, the Summer Reading Program is the perfect time to try these popular collections available from the Library. These items can be downloaded to your Windows or Mac computer, transferred to many popular eReaders, or downloaded directly to your smartphone. Get started by clicking the "Download eBooks, Audiobooks" link under the Library Links menu at left, then click on OverDrive.

Interested in technology? The Library has several new books related to technology available, including Idea Man: A Memior by the Co-founder of Micorsoft by Paul Allen, Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other by Sherry Turkle, Final Jeopardy: Man vs. Machine and the Quest to Know Everything by Stephen Baker, and Kingpin by Kevin Poulsen.

Whether it is an eBook, eAudiobook, or paper book, enroll in the Adult Summer Reading program and start reading!

Now that good weather has finally returned to Michigan, take advantage of the Troy Public Library's extensive collection of gardening and landscaping titles to give your yard a fresh new look.

Whether you are a seasoned green thumb or are just learning how to design and plant a garden, we have resources to help you. Check out the gardening display at the top of the ramp in the Adult area of the Library, or ask a staff to help you locate books for your exact needs. 

And before you leave the Library, make sure to take a look at the Troy Garden Club's display in the lobby near the meeting room. You will see award-winning artwork by area high school students who participated in the Garden Club's 3rd Annual Art competition. This year's winner is Elizaveta Bondarenko, a junior at Troy High School, whose grand prize award of $100 was sponsored by Troy attorney Joshua D. West. Her winning entry is displayed here. Congratulations to Elizaveta and all who participated!

In celebration of Black History Month, Kroger is sponsoring an "I Can Make History" contest, open to all Michigan children in grades 4 through 12. The grocery chain's Michigan Division will award more than $59,000 in scholarships, laptop computers and family field trips to student winners. There are four different categories: art, essay, music and poetry, so you can compete in what ever you excel.

For the contest rules and entry forms, go to "I Can Make History". All entries must be received by February 28. Submit your original artwork, essay, music, or poetry and you might win!