HMB Library is holding a teen poetry contest

The Half Moon Bay Library is holding a poetry contest with cash prizes for Coastside teens. Poems entered in the contest will, with the author’s permission, be published in the 2009 edition of Moon Harvest/Cosecha de la Luna. Teens also have the option of having a poem published anonymously. Previous editions of the poetry anthology are available for checkout at the Library.

Coastside teens ages 12 to 19 can submit an original poem in English or Spanish or both, written in any form. The contest deadline is June 30. Bilingual poems (English/Spanish) are eligible, if both the poem and its translation are the work of the teen.

Cash prizes will be awarded: 1st place English and Spanish, $75.00 each; 2nd place English and Spanish, $50.00 each; 5 Honorable Mentions, $25.00 each. For the fifth year, a Librarian’s Choice prize of $25.00 will be awarded for a poem selected by Library staff.  In addition, teens entering the contest will receive a free copy of Moon Harvest/Cosecha de la Luna.

The prizes will be awarded at a poetry reading and awards ceremony on Friday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m. All teens who enter the contest will be invited to read their work.

Complete contest rules and entry forms for the 11th Annual Teen Poetry Contest are available at the Library and on the Bookmobile. The Half Moon Bay Library is located at 620 Correas Street. For more information, or for Library or Bookmobile hours, call 726-2316 x2.