Enter the ‘I Love my Library’ Contest

Do you and your patrons love libraries? Well, now’s your chance to show the world just how much—and possibly win $10,000.

In honor of National Library Week, which began on April 15, Thomson Gale has launched a contest called “I Love my Library,” which offers a fun and easy way to express your appreciation for the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians.
 
The contest is open to everyone, including librarians, and here’s how it works. Make a video between 30 seconds to two minutes long “professing a deep, abiding love of libraries, librarians and those who depend on them.” Then load the video to librareo (www.gale.com/librareo), an online an online community on YouTube created by Thomson Gale for libraries and the people who love them. You can submit as many videos as you like, as long as each entry is original.

Five finalists who will be judged based on creativity, unique portrayal of love for libraries and the resources they provide, and overall likeability, will be announced by June 1. They will then be featured on www.gale.com/librareo for a nationwide vote that will be held from June 1–11, 2007.  The video with the most votes wins the grand prize, which will be split between the winner and a library of his choice.

The winning video also will be shown at a special screening at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. in June, 2007. For contest rules and video samples, visit www.gale.com/librareo.com. The deadline is before midnight EST on Friday, May 25, 2007..

Thomson Gale is also offering open access to all its databases this week. Visit www.accessmylibrary.com/libraryweek to explore more than 100 databases, which include topics ranging from health and wellness to literature and world history.