Austin is commemorating a century of service with a special opportunity for residents to contribute to the design of new library cards. Citizens have until July 31 to cast their votes for their preferred designs, which feature various creative themes including a reading bat, a painted dog, and a vibrant birthday cake.
The Centennial Library Card Art Contest has attracted over 100 submissions from individuals of all ages, celebrating the Austin Public Library’s 100th anniversary, as noted by Baylor Johnson, the library’s communications manager. “The centennial has been an important theme for us for this entire year, as we celebrate a century of service and look forward to the next century,” Johnson remarked, emphasizing the library’s ongoing commitment to the community.
Three winning designs will be selected—one from each age category—and announced in time for National Library Card Sign-up Month. The children’s entries feature birthday-themed illustrations, including large candles and playful animals and robots donning party hats. Teen participants envisioned the library’s future with designs inspired by spaceships and abstract representations of the library’s name. Adult submissions highlight Central Texas wildlife through charming illustrations of bats, rabbits, and even a Barton Springs salamander engrossed in a book.
Currently, the library cards are described as “very simple and straightforward,” according to Johnson, who also pointed out that the last public art contest held by the library took place in 2000. “The Austin Public Library has grown—just as the city has evolved—into a large, dynamic library system that serves our expanding and diverse community,” Johnson added.
Residents can view all the submitted designs and participate in the voting process through the library’s official platform.
