- Contest overview
Berkeley Public Library is inviting the community to create a fiber mascot that captures the spirit of the library and Berkeley. This mascot may be featured on our social media, website, and promotional materials.
Fiber is defined broadly. Your mascot may be knitted, crocheted, sewn, felted, woven, embroidered, quilted, or mixed media. Fiber does not need to be the primary material, but it must be clearly incorporated as part of the design. Creative use of fabric, yarn, thread, textile scraps, stuffing, and other textile elements is encouraged.
- Submission period
Entries will be accepted from June 1 through June 30. Submissions received outside this window will not be considered.
- Eligibility
The contest is open to everyone. There is no age limit.
Participants under 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian to enter.
Group submissions are welcome. Schools, families, friends, and community groups may submit a mascot together.
- Size requirements
All mascots must:
- Be at least 7 inches tall
- Be no larger than 12 inches tall
- Have a maximum width and depth no greater than 12 inches
- Be fully assembled and self-contained
- Material and safety requirements
All entries must be safe for public display in a library setting. The following are not allowed:
- Toxic or hazardous materials
- Sharp objects or blades
- Pins, exposed needles, or loose sharp components
- Perishable materials such as food
- Live plants or living organisms
- Materials that rot, mold, melt easily, or attract pests
- Fragile elements that can easily break or shatter
Library staff reserve the right to disqualify entries.
- Design criteria
We are not looking for perfection. In fact, we welcome the opposite.
Your mascot should feel:
- Wacky
- Playful
- A little weird
- Fun and energetic
- Cute in an unconventional way
- Expressive and full of personality
- Handmade and heartfelt
- Approachable
- Memorable
- Community centered
- Reflective of Berkeley
- Reflective of the library
- Clever, thoughtful, or story driven
- Inclusive and welcoming
- Creative and imaginative
Professional polish is not required. Charm, originality, humor, and character matter more than technical perfection.
- Gifts
All participants who submit an eligible entry will receive a small participation gift. This includes:
- A $5 coupon to use at the Friends of the Library bookstore
- A color pencil set
- A limited Berkeley Public Library coloring sheet
Participation gifts are available while supplies last.
- Selection and recognition
One mascot will be selected by Berkeley Public Library to become the library mascot and may be featured across library communications, including social media, website, and promotional materials.
In addition, three entries will be recognized through a public voting process in the following categories:
- Most Berkeley
- Most Creative
- Best Youth Entry (age 12 and under)
Details about the voting process will be announced after the submission period.
- Ownership and rights
By entering the contest, participants agree to the following:
- Winning mascots become the property of Berkeley Public Library.
- The library retains full ownership and all rights to reproduce, photograph, modify, and use winning mascots for promotional, marketing, educational, and other library purposes in any format.
- Non-winning entries remain the property of the creator. However, Berkeley Public Library may photograph submitted mascots and use those photographs for promotional, marketing, educational, and other library related purposes in print, online, and on social media.
- Pickup of non-winning entries
After the contest concludes, there will be a designated pickup window for non-winning submissions. Entries not claimed during this period may be donated, repurposed, or responsibly disposed of at the library’s discretion.
Specific pickup dates will be announced after winners are selected.
- General terms
- By submitting an entry, participants agree to these rules.
- The library reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not meet the stated requirements.
If you have questions about materials, size, or submission details, please contact the library before creating your mascot.
We cannot wait to meet your wonderfully strange, lovable, and very Berkeley creations.