The Forsyth County Public Library is offering children and teens an opportunity to design their first library card in a newly implemented art contest.

The contest, which is co-sponsored by FCPL and the Canton-Woodstock-Cumming Macaroni Kid, is open to Forsyth County children in two age groups: pre-K through grade 5 and grades 6-12.

Prizes will be awarded for the winning design in each group, which will be unveiled in August, and the winners will have their design printed on the county’s library cards.

“The My First Library Card program offers our younger patrons an opportunity to choose a library card design they will be excited about using to check out books and materials,” Program Manager Laura Bradley said.

“This year’s summer reading theme is ‘Build a Better World’ and so many of the children’s activities we’ve planned focus on using creativity to solve problems, build models and create works of art. Inviting young patrons to create My First Library Card designs is such a natural extension of that theme.”

Amie Esposito, publisher of the Macaroni Kid website, said the library is both a fun and educational place, which is why she co-sponsors the event.

“The Macaroni Kid mission is to help parents ‘entertain and exhaust’ their children by sharing fun activities, camps, events, classes and programs,” she said. “I believe in the work the library does to support children and families in our community with both fun and educational materials and programs.

“Giving kids their own library card strengthens their interest in the library and encourages them to keep practicing their literacy skills. Giving them a card for kids that was actually designed by kids — that’s a wonderful way to tell children that they are welcome in the library.”

For more information or to enter, visit forsythpl.org.