Santa Barbara Public Library, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Zoo, has announced three new library card designs for patrons to choose from when signing up for a library card.


Four hands hold up library cards bearing new designs. (Courtesy photo)
Library cards bearing new designs are ready for patrons. (Courtesy photo)

The new library card designs were created by patrons who submitted to the Wild About Reading Library Card Design Contest that ran July 27-Aug. 12, inviting participants to answer the question “How would your favorite zoo animal read?”


“This contest offered community members of all ages an opportunity to reflect on two local iconic institutions, Santa Barbara’s beautiful zoo and historic library system,” said Brandon Beaudette, library director.
 
“We were overjoyed by the creativity displayed in more than 50 submissions, featuring animals from across the globe,” contest organizers said.

“Submissions were voted on by zoo and library staff in three age categories: youth, teen and adult,” organizers said. “We were impressed by the imagination of every submission, but three winning designs rose to the top.”

The winning entries and artists were:

Adult winner (ages 18+): Kelly Hudson — “Wild Things” 
“I never would have thought to draw this on my own, and I was absolutely enchanted by the process of making it,” Hudson said. “That sense of discovery and delight feels, to me, very much at the heart of both the library and the zoo.”

Teen winner (ages 13-17): Eleanore Preloger — “Humboldt Happiness.” 
“When I heard about this art contest, it was the perfect match,” Preloger said. “It combined drawing, animals and reading, my favorite things. The Santa Barbara Zoo and Santa Barbara Public Library are both beautiful spaces where I go to learn more about my passions.”
 
Youth winner (under 13): Khayukti Gandrothula — “Blending in with the Story”
”Just like a chameleon blends into its environment, I like to blend into the stories I read. And because I am a curious reader, I wish I could use my eyes – like a chameleon and read 2 pages at the same time,” Gandrothula said.
 
Patrons can drop by any Santa Barbara Public Library location or Library on the Go to choose one of the designs when signing up for a new card, or existing cardholders can replace their current library card with a fresh design.

Card replacement will result in a new library card number.

Community members can celebrate the new cards with Library on the Go at the State Street Farmers Market, 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, near the Canon Perdido intersection.

Drop by to choose a new card design, take photos with larger-than-life versions of the winning designs, and meet with library and zoo staff.