National Poetry Month Poetry Contest

Are you a poet and you didn’t know it? Take a shot at our poetry contest! For ages 8-18. See full description for deadline & rules.

Are you a poet and you didn’t know it? Can you rhyme anytime?  Take a shot at our poetry contest for a chance to win a $10 gift card of your choice!(Amazon or Barnes & Noble) 

Submissions are due April 18th. One winner for each age group (see rules below) will be announced at the end of April. Have questions? Contact our Youth Services Department at 815-467-1600 (ext. 3) and leave a message for Miss Lexie or Miss Amber. 

Poetry Contest Rules: 

• Participants will be divided into three age groups: 8-11 yrs, 12-15 yrs & 16-18 yrs.
• To enter bring a typed and printed copy of your poem to either library location (no handwritten entries please). Make sure to include at top: a title, your first & last name, your age and a phone number. 
• Only 1 entry per person.

Poem Guidelines:

• Maximum 250 words.
• Only poems written by a single author (1 person) will be accepted.
• Poems can be in any style and can rhyme, but don't have to! They can be fact or fiction.
• Poems that use non-English words should include each word's English translation at the bottom of the page. (ex. Corazón=heart). If the whole poem is written in another language, please include the full English translation at the bottom. 
• Invented (made-up) spelling is accepted, but your intended words should still be clear.
• All poems must be original. Copying or plagiarizing someone else's work will disqualify you. If your poem was inspired by or is an homage to someone else's work, please add the following line under your poem's title: “inspired by" or "in the style of (title) by (author).”

Upcoming events