Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Library Card Design Contest! Our community is vibrant and talented, and every single submission reflects this. We had three standouts among the entries:

 

Winner: Audrey Lowther-Warren with Dragon Sleeping with Books 

Honorable Mention: Beatrice Warren with Land and Sea 

Honorable Mention: Stephani Wells with Book Worm 

 

These beautiful designs celebrate the many ways our community connects with reading, learning, and the library. Audrey’s winning design was inspired by her lifelong love of fantasy and the idea of a dragon who treasures books, stories, knowledge, and beautiful illustrations. Having grown up in Ridgeland, Audrey fondly remembers the Pratt Memorial Library as her childhood library and is delighted to return with her own children to share that same love of reading and community.

 

Her seven-year-old daughter, Beatrice, drew inspiration from the library’s dinosaur-themed summer learning program and created a design featuring some of her favorite land- and water-dwelling dinosaurs. After receiving her first library card at Pratt Memorial Library two years ago, Bea is already making special memories at the same library her mother loved as a child. Her favorite library activities include reading and playing educational games on the computers.

 

Stephani, who has been visiting AHJ libraries for about seven years, is also sharing her love of the library with the next generation. After choosing books with her son and daughter, her five-year-old kindergartener asks, “Is it time to pay now?” This question and the lesson that followed about obtaining library books sparked the idea for her clever credit card design. Stephani hopes that her design will help kids feel a sense of responsibility when checking out books.

 

Thank you, Audrey, Beatrice, and Stephani, for sharing your creativity and helping us celebrate the imagination and love of reading that make our library community so special!

 

You will find all three winning designs printed on library cards starting October 30, 2026, at all AHJ locations. The new design will remain in circulation while supplies last, so be sure to pick one up!