The winners of this summer’s Library Card Sign-Up Month design contest have been chosen!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition!
We encouraged entrants to create a design based on what the library means to them, and how the motto “Free to All” inspires them. After a thorough review of creativity, artistic merit, and communication of the card’s message, BPL staff voted on a finalist from each of the Adult, Teen, and Youth age groups. See the new cards and what each artist had to say about their design:
How to Get a New Card
Starting August 31, cards with each new design will be available at all locations and will remain in circulation throughout 2027 while supplies last. Stop by your local BPL location to pick up a new card and celebrate Library Card Signup Month! Make sure to bring a valid ID and proof of residency when getting a new card.
Winning Artworks
Elly Otharsson, Adult
“A library is a special place, especially this one. I've walked into this lobby with my niece so many times over the years, for story hour and for concerts in the courtyard. It never stops feeling magical! For this design, I was inspired by the magic of this iconic room: the staircase, the lions, the light, oh my! How lucky are we to call this library ours.”
Julianna Peng, Youth
“I was inspired by books I read, Boston, and animals such as ducks (like Make Way for Ducklings statues), pandas, and lobsters (it seems like lobsters are the most popular food in Boston). Big thanks to my mom, who helped me think of ideas and encouraged me to draw more even when I was tired. The library means free to all. Free to all means that anybody can read the books, no matter who they are, and it's all free! Books bring you to different places and worlds, and it makes you feel like you're actually there!”
Carolyn Taylor, Teen
"The lion on the card is inspired by the statues inside the BPL. Last year, when I was showing my out-of-town friend around Boston, she was amazed by the library lions and said they looked like guardians. That inspired me to turn the lion into a caring figure who protects the weak. As for the lion’s friend, the mouse — even though the lion and the mouse are often called enemies, the library is the perfect place for them to find common ground."
