Kerrie Joyce 
November 4th was a busy night for New Jersey elections, as voters in Montclair spent the autumn months weighing their choices to lead the state and the town’s future. One key election The Montclair Girl team has been watching especially closely is the Montclair Public Library‘s Library Card Contest. In celebration of Library Card Sign-Up Month, the library held a contest inviting local artists of all age groups to submit their designs for three different cards showcasing their talents and appreciation for the library. Read on to see the winners and more about the card contest.
About The Contest
The Montclair Public Library held its annual Library Card Contest for 2025 earlier this fall and has announced the winners after two weeks of deliberation. From September 5th to October 5th, Montclair residents of all ages were invited to submit their designs for children’s, teen, and adult library cards that “embraced the spirit of reading, learning, community, or the library itself.” In a testament to Montclair’s artist scene, over 180 entries were received.
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Community voting took place from October 17th to October 24th at 12PM. Of the top designs, library staff judged submissions based on creativity, originality, and visual impact. After community voting, the library announced official winners on Election Day, of course. Before polls closed on political races, The Montclair Girl received word of an official decision on the winning card designs at 3PM.
Read More: A Guide to the Libraries of Essex County
Winning Entries
Submissions for each card category, Children’s, Teen, and Adult, were accepted from artists of all ages. The Montclair Public Library will host a Board of Trustees meeting with a special ceremony celebrating the contest winners. The ceremony is open to the public and will take place on November 17th at 7PM. Starting in December, limited-edition library cards featuring the winning designs will be available to patrons. See winners and their designs below:
Children’s Library Card
Designed by Arya S., Age 11
Teen Library Card
Designed by Linda Larkin, Adult
Adult Library Card
Designed by Hélène F., age 13
“We were amazed by how many incredible submissions we received, and we loved each and every design,” said Library Director Radwa Ali. “These new limited-edition cards are a great celebration of Montclair Public Library and the community members that make our library so special.”
See More: Where to Find Little Free Libraries in Montclair + Bloomfield
Information about how to get one of the limited-edition cards, runners-up, and other highlighted submissions can be found on the Montclair Public Library website.
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