FRIENDS OF THE ELM GROVE LIBRARY POETRY CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES AND REGISTRATION 2016
Directions: Fill out the entry form attached to these rules and submit completed form along with your typed or handwritten poem by the close of the library on April 25, 2016. Submissions should be placed in the box marked “Young Poets Contest” located at the front desk of the Elm Grove Public Library. Additional forms are available on the FOEGL website.
Selection & Eligibility: Poems will be judged on originality and creativity. There will be one winner from each age group. The age groups are: 5-6; 7-9; and 10-14. Participants do not need to be residents of Elm Grove.
Judging: Judging will be done “blind.” This means that each entry form and the attached poem will be numbered. The poem will be detached from the entry form and placed in a pile corresponding to the age group. Poems will be judged by a three person panel. Once the judges have determined the winner for each age group the poem will be reattached to its corresponding entry form and the winners will be notified as indicated below. All decisions by the judges are final.
Fee: No entry fee.
Submissions: Poems must be the child’s own work and may not contain previously published or copyrighted material. Submissions must be in good taste and may not contain foul or offensive language. Any type of poem may be submitted, and there is no word count limitation, however, in the event a longer poem wins, only an excerpt of that poem will be printed on the winning bookmark. Poets may submit more than one poem. All poems submitted belong to the author.
Notification: Winners in each age group will be announced at a reception in their honor to take place on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in the O’Neill Room of the Elm Grove Library. Winners need not be present. Winners will also be notified by email.
Prizes: The winner in each age group will have his or her poem printed on a bookmark to be distributed at the Elm Grove Library. The winning poems will also be published in the Elm Grove News Independent. Each winner will also receive a FOEGL book bag filled with prizes. Questions: Please email jbelmalloy@gmail.com with any questions regarding the contest.
Deadline: Poems must be submitted by the close of the library on or before Monday, April 25, 2016.
GOOD LUCK!