Libraries keep art contest alive for Monroe, Sultan youth

When Sno-Isle Libraries decided to forgo its annual teen art contest this year, Monroe librarian Emily Felt reached out to Sultan librarian Bryan Schnell to see if they could somehow keep the contest alive.

Felt said both libraries in years past boasted particularly high participation in the art contest, which was widely supported by art teachers from both the Monroe and Sultan school districts. And Sky Valley teens didn't just participate ' they participated successfully. Last year, three of the four contest winners were from the Monroe and Sultan libraries.

Felt and Schnell decided to work together to continue the contest, despite the fact that it will no longer be system-wide.

"We decided that we would do one just for the Sky Valley teens, to keep that going,GÇ¥ Felt said.

Sky Valley teens in grades six through 12 are welcome to participate. Artists should submit a two-dimensional piece of art on 8 -+-by-11-inch paper, as well as their name and contact information, to either the Monroe or Sultan Library by Oct. 31 to be eligible to win. The theme of this year's contest is "Art Inspired by Libraries.GÇ¥

"It's pretty broad; they can do whatever they want,GÇ¥ Felt said. "It just needs to be appropriate to display.GÇ¥

The art will be on display at both libraries throughout the month of November. The art will be judged by library staff and representatives from the Monroe and Sky Valley arts councils, who will select four winners from each library. Each winner will receive a $25 gift card to a local book store. Signed parental permission forms must be received by the libraries in order for the art to be eligible for the contest.

For more information about the art contest, contact Felt at EFelt@sno-isle.org or visit http://skyvalleyartscouncil.com/2015/09/30/find-inspiration-at-the-library/.

Monroe Teen Read Month Scavenger Hunt

Also on Felt's agenda for the month of October is a travel-themed teen scavenger hunt at the Monroe Library. The scavenger hunt is affiliated with Sno-Isle's Teen Read Month based on the theme, "Get Away at Your Library.GÇ¥

Felt designed the scavenger hunt to be static, so anybody can participate in the hunt anytime the library is open. She is hoping the open-ended timeframe will help boost participation and teens will tell their friends after they participate.

Prizes will be given to teens that successfully locate all the scavenger hunt items. The hunt will run the entire month of October.

"In order to complete the scavenger hunt, you're going to have to have some good library skills already, or you're going to have to ask lots of questions at the information desk,GÇ¥ Felt said. "And that's kind of the idea, is that you would need a little help and that you would be guided through these resources.GÇ¥

Felt hid clues last week in preparation of the hunt, which opened on Monday, Oct. 5. Her goal for the scavenger hunt is to engage teens and help them become more at ease using library resources, catalogs and reference materials.-á

Homelessness Discussion

Monroe Librarian Phil Spirito is hosting a panel at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, to discuss homelessness in Monroe. Numerous local resource organizations will be represented on the panel, including Take the Next Step, Cocoon House, the Cold Weather Alliance, Housing Hope, the Sky Valley Food Bank and the Monroe Police Department. The discussion is meant to clarify what services are available in Monroe, and what might be needed in order to fill the gaps.-á

Members of the panel will provide general information about what they do and take questions from the audience.

"Each person will give a five- or 10-minute description of the services they provide, and then we'll have some question-and-answer,GÇ¥ Spirito said. "The ideal audience for this is people wanting to learn more about homelessness and about the resources that we provide.GÇ¥

For more information about Monroe Library programs and events, visit www.sno-isle.org/locations/monroe/ or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/monroelibrary?fref=ts.