Congratulations to the winners of the Why I Need My Library contest!

Winners
Runners up
About Why I Need My Library
Video Contest Tools for Librarians

Winners    

There is 1 grand prize recipient in each category. Winners will receive $3,000 for their libraries.

13-15 Age Category

Danielle Driggers
Timber Creek Elementary School
Flower Mound, Texas
Watch the video

16-18 Age Category

Katayoun Amir-Aslami, Ashley Feldman, Isabelle Herde, Nick Howard, Nicola Scandiffio, Stewart Taylor, Courtney Wills & Nick Zanca
New Canaan High School
New Canaan, Conn.
Watch the video

Second Place    

Runners up were also named. Two first runners up were selected in each age group and will receive $2,000 for their libraries. The runners up are:

13-15 Age Category

Rebecca Gross, Nicholas Ryan & Benjamin Thorstraten
Sudbrook Library
Baltimore, Md.
Watch the video

Samantha Hoelzer, Kendall Lierz, Lewis Lindsey, Lindsey Scott & Ryan Scott
Del Webb Library at Indian Land
Indian Land, S.C.
Watch the video

16-18 Age Category

Yesenia Aguirre, Fernanda Canales, Julie Gurman, Yoan Morales, Lisandro Vibeo & George Zul
Harris County Public Library - Aldine Branch
Houston, Texas
Watch the video

Paul Anderson, Naoko Braxton, Colleen Cathner, Sandra Hoyer, Peppy O'Neill & Makeda Thomas
Potomac Community Library
Woodbridge, Va.
Watch the video

Third Place

Three second runners up were selected in each age group and will receive $1,000 for their libraries. The winners are:

13-15 Age Category

David Gomez, Sirenna Harris, Isabel Madera, Ruben Ochoa, Jocelyn Torres and Amor Velazquez
San Diego Public Library – Logan Heights Branch
San Diego, Calif.
Watch the video  

Justin Doll, Cassandra Hurley, Anna Johns, Harrison Sotoloff, Anna Teitt  & Lindsay Zatlmeire
Finksburg Library
Finksburg, Md.
Watch the video

Johnna Astis, Shaquille Charlery, Porsche Hoppin, Kareem Jessemy, Megan Kilgallen & Phillip Stewart
Brooklyn Public Library - Central Youth Wing
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Watch the video

16-18 Age Category

Alvin Ho, Brian Li, Alistair Twombly
Santa Clara City Library
Santa Clara, Calif.
Watch the video

Matthew Barnes, Coen Clark, Michaiah Clark, Donald Hill, Jr., Aaron Tetter & Patrick Toliver
Kankakee Public Library
Kankakee, Ill.
Watch the video

Andrew Pruim & Anika Pruim
Grand Rapids Public Library
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Watch the video

Special Mention

Kirana Cunanan & Isoleil Montalvo
Olympian High School Library
Chula Vista, Calif.
Watch the video

About the Why I Need My Library Video Contest    

Sponsored by the American Library Association, the Why I Need My Library video contest asked teens to create original 1-3 minute videos about why they thought school and public libraries are needed now more than ever. 

A total of 157 groups of teens submitted videos on YouTube from January through April 2011.  Teens used live-action, animation, stop-motion and other techniques to creatively convey the contest theme.

Entries were accepted in two age categories: 13-15 and 16-18.  To view all of the videos, visit:

Ages 13-15

Ages 16-18

The Why I Need My Library Video Contest is an initiative of 2010-2011 ALA President Roberta Stevens to engage teenagers as library advocates. Read an interview with Stevens about the contest.

Tools for Librarians    

• List of tips for teens on creating a video
• List of tips for getting teens to participate in a video contest
• Complete contest  guidelines
• Contest entry form
• Why I Need My Library  judging criteria
• Promotional video from teens at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina