Teen Video Challenge now accepting entries

The State Library of Louisiana will again participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Teen Video Challenge, a national video competition encouraging teens to get involved with reading and their public libraries’ summer reading programs. Teenagers may enter the competition by creating a public service announcement that inspires others to read and visit libraries during the summer.

“The competition is a great opportunity for teens to exercise their creativity,” said State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser added, “This year’s theme, ‘Get in the Game – Read,’ appeals to teens by combining recreation and literacy. We encourage all young people to get involved with their library, read a book, and inspire others to do the same.”

The winning video from each participating state will be announced in spring 2016 and used by public libraries nationally to promote summer reading. The creators of the winning state video will be awarded $150, and their associated public library will receive prizes worth $50 from the CSLP and Upstart. The deadline for video submission is April 1, 2016.

The CSLP is a grassroots consortium of public libraries and state library agencies throughout the United States, its territories and the Cayman Islands that works together to provide high-quality summer reading materials for libraries to use in their summer programs with children, teens, and adults.
            Rules and details for the challenge can be found on the State Library’s website, www.state.lib.la.us. For additional information, visit www.cslpreads.org/. Click Literacy and Reading, then Summer Reading Program, and scroll to Teen Video Challenge. The winning videos may be used by teens and public libraries to promote summer reading nationwide.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She also writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire, “A Cajun Dream” and “The Letter.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.