Get Ready For Our Photo Contest!

Posted by staff

The Edwardsville Public Library is hosting its tenth annual photography contest. We will begin accepting submissions starting next Monday, (October 7th).  We've posted rules and more information on a handy PDF.  If you'd like to see previous winners, visit this set of images on our Flickr page.

If you want to prepare and take the best photo possible, we can help!  Some of the most highly rated photo books are available at the library and we've listed a few below.  If you want to browse the shelves, we have an extensive collection in the 770s.

The Digital Photography Book: The Step-By-Step Secrets For How to Make Your Phtotos Look Like the Pros by Scott Kelby.

The Complete Guide to Black & White Digital Photography by Michael Freeman

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson

If you want a more in-depth instruction, we offer photography classes through our online service Universal Class.  You'll need your Edwardsville library card to sign up for a class, but you can work at your own pace from home.   The classes are free and have instructors to answer any questions you may have along the way.

Digital Photography 101 is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of digital camera designs and capabilities, and the series of steps to take great photographs. You'll learn about lenses, when to use them and how to select the right lens for your pictures. We take the mystery out of pixels, megapixels, filters, flashes, exposure meters and much more.

Photography 101: Beginner to Intermediate. This course will help you discover how to use the camera you have--no matter how fancy or simple it is--so that you can take great pictures. You will discover the differences in modern cameras, and find a recommendation for which one you should buy, if you are in the market for one. You will learn what the pro's do, and how you can do the same thing for less. You will find step-by-step instructions on how to make great photos that are worthy of submission to any local photography contest.

Dig Into Reading at the EPL

Posted by Staff

Are you ready to read?  Dig into reading at the Library this summer. Our reading programs will begin June 3rd and we have something for everyone in the family.  Adults can read books and obtain tickets for drawings for a Kindle Paperwhite or $100 worth of gift cards.  Teens can read for prizes and take part in special events.  Readers from birth through 5th grade will participate with reading programs, prize drawings, story hours, a reading club, and more!  All programs end on July 26th.  For details about each program, call the library (692-7556) or see our newsletter.

Trivia Night @ the EPL

Posted by Anne W.

Flex your neurons for a good cause!

The Library's Teen Advisory Board is hosting a trivia night Saturday, December 1st at 7:00 PM.  You can have up to eight players on your team and pool your intellectual powers.  The charge is $80 per table.  Bring your favorite snacks and beverages (no alcohol, please) and get ready for an brain busting good time.  The winning team will receive a cash prize.

We'll also have a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and a bake sale (sweet tooth alert!).

For reservations or info about prizes, contact Anne (692-7556) in the Youth Department.

Flash Fiction - Write Some Today!

Posted by Staff

In honor of National Novel Writing Month (visit the official website for more info) the EPL is hosting a fiction writing contest.  Lots of people take the challenge and write a novel during November.  A decent percentage get published (click here for details) and one became famous (Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen). We suspect that writing a novel on short notice may be a bit stressful, but a paragraph – no problem! 

Flash fiction (usually 1000 words or less) contains all the classic story elements (protagonist, conflict, obstacles & resolution), but these tiny stories are succinct – so brief that some elements may only be implied.  We've selected four amazing prompts to get your brain cells jumping.  All the elements in the prompt must be used in your story, but the rest is up to you.  Only 150 words, how difficult could it be?

The deadline for submission is Monday November 26th.  Winners in each category will win an 8GB flash drive and be published on the blog

For more details, rules and writing tips, visit our website or print out our PDF.  Good luck and happy writing!