Arizona Library Raises Funds with Designer Library Cards

Avondale's $5 designer library cards raising funds. (Arizona Republic, 7/22/2011)

Excerpt:   Ava Gutwein, manager of the Avondale public libraries, said the design contest in early spring drew about 100 contestants.

"I was so proud of them," she said. "They did a great job."

But only four winners could be chosen by a committee of judges, Gutwein said.

They chose the creations of the following area artists:

- Children's winner: Julia Kury, 12, of Avondale.

- Young-adult winner: Nita Perez, 17, of Phoenix.

- Adult winner: Rayed Kury of Avondale.

- Friends of the Libraries winner: Rebecka Cabrera, 14, of Glendale.

Gutwein said that in the library-card fundraising program, the card a person buys determines which program gets a donation. For example, with a card bearing the children's-category design, the $5 goes toward children's programming and supplies.

"We thought, 'Hey, this would be a great way to raise funds,' " Gutwein said. "Libraries are all about being free, but we still do need to support more of the programs, and we appreciate it."

The library made 1,250 cards in each category, she said, and anyone who lives in Maricopa County or who owns property in the county can obtain an Avondale library card.

Library users may continue to choose the standard-card design at no cost.