Top library card designs in Oakland contest awarded

The six winners in the Oakland Public Library’s contest to design a new library card were announced at a ceremony at the main library on Wednesday night.

More than 300 entries were submitted for the contest.

Any medium was acceptable including pen and ink, paint, photography and computer-generated art.

Drawings or designs were required to incorporate the themes of Oakland or libraries or both.

The contest was divided into three age levels: children up to age 11, teens and preteens between 12 and 18 and adults 19 and older. Two winners were selected from each age level.

Judges named their top choice in each level and the public chose a second winner.

The public winners were determined by counting the number of “likes” each entry received on the Oakland Public Library’s Facebook page.

More than 10,500 votes were cast.

The winners will have their designs on Oakland Public Library cards in circulation and patrons who get new library cards will get to choose which design they want.

In the children’s category, Jacob Paltiel, age 5, was the judges’ choice and Sophia Ng, age 4, was the public’s choice.

In the teen category, Hanna Chang, 16, was the first choice of both the judges and the public and Naya Chang, 16, was the runner-up in both divisions.

In the adult category, the design by Katy Tanis was the judges’ choice and the design by Lea Zalinskis was the public’s choice.

In addition to being seen on library cards, the winning designs will be displayed on Alameda-Contra Costa Transit buses in April and May.

The program was sponsored by the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and AC Transit.