As libraries across the United States grapple with funding challenges and a rise in book-ban efforts, a national art contest is putting creativity to work in support of local library systems.
Books That Changed My Life, the YouTube show and podcast hosted by author and book advocate Chris Collins, recently announced the winners of its inaugural “Book Look” T-shirt design contest. The competition gave a total of $7,500 to artists from across the country. However, each winner splits the prize evenly with a public library of their choice.
The organizers created the contest to celebrate National Library Week. This annual American Library Association observance highlights the value of libraries and library workers.
The 2026 National Library Week theme was “Find Your Joy.” It closely matched BTCML’s “BookJoy” concept.
Both ideas encouraged artists to show the happiness, discovery, and connection that books bring to communities. Librarian, literacy advocate, and former Reading Rainbow host Mychal Threets served as the week’s honorary chair.
For Collins, however, the contest was about more than celebrating reading.
“This was never just an art competition,” Collins explained. “It was designed as a form of advocacy. Libraries are facing funding cuts and increasing challenges from book bans, yet they remain one of the most important public resources we have. We wanted to create something that not only celebrates libraries, but directly supports them.”
Books That Changed My Life is recorded inside the Syndicate X Library, Collins’ personal collection of more than 25,000 books housed in downtown Los Angeles. A longtime business “fixer” who later became a leading voice in book advocacy, Collins is also the author of the best-selling book set, I Am Leader. Through BTCML, he regularly explores the transformative impact books can have on people’s lives.
The Book Look contest invited creatives nationwide to submit original T-shirt designs inspired by the joy of reading and libraries. Judges selected three winners whose work reflected both artistic excellence and a deep connection to the institutions that helped shape them.
Grand Prize: Megan Quirk and “Stories Flow Here”
Colorado freelance digital illustrator and substitute librarian Megan Quirk won the Grand Prize. Her design, Stories Flow Here, earned the contest’s top award of $5,000.
Quirk is a self-taught artist. She often draws inspiration from her chickens and the natural world.
Her design focuses on environmental education, outdoor exploration, and lifelong learning. It shows Quirk reading on a river raft. Around her, books, nature, and discovery come together.
Quirk said outdoor reading and river rafting trips inspired the piece. In those moments, stories and landscapes often blended together.
For her library partner, she selected the Summit County Library System in Colorado. The choice reflected her belief that libraries play a vital role in connecting communities with both literature and environmental learning opportunities.
As the Grand Prize winner, Quirk received $2,500. The organizers also directed the remaining $2,500 to the Summit County Library System.
Runner-Up: Sarah Celebrates Shared Reading
The contest’s runner-up prize went to Sarah, an artist, illustrator, and printmaker from Maryland whose work blends fantastical and surreal elements with humor and imagination.
Influenced by science fiction and fantasy, Sarah’s winning design depicts a group of people sitting on a park bench. Each person reads a different book and seems lost in a separate world. Yet the image still conveys connection through the shared act of reading. Hidden within the artwork is a playful cat detail, rewarding careful viewers.
The piece reflects a central theme of the Book Look contest: reading as both a deeply personal and profoundly communal experience.
Sarah chose the Brunswick Branch Library, part of Maryland’s Frederick County Public Libraries system, as the recipient of her matching library award. The library has long been an important community resource and source of inspiration for local readers.
Under the contest’s funding model, the runner-up prize was divided equally between the artist and the library.
Third Place: Logan’s Celebration of Nature and Curiosity
Ohio-based artist and printmaker Logan won Third Place. He also writes, illustrates, and hand-binds his own comic books.
Logan is known for a nature-inspired and playful style. His work often explores ecosystems, connection, and everyday beauty.
His BookJoy design continued those themes. It used whimsical imagery to celebrate curiosity, learning, and nature’s diversity.
For his library partner, Logan selected Birchard Public Library in Fremont, Ohio. The institution has served generations of readers in the region and reflects the community-centered mission that inspired the contest.
Like the other winners, Logan’s prize was shared equally between himself and the library he chose to support.
For a broader perspective on how books influence modern culture and personal transformation, see: Ruth B: The Guest Cat Is a Lesson in the Art of Letting Go
Art With a Purpose
While design contests are common, the Book Look competition stands out. Unlike many contests, it directly connects artistic recognition with community investment.
According to Collins, the decision to split prize money between artists and libraries was intentional from the beginning. By directing funds to local institutions, BTCML aimed to raise awareness of the pressures libraries face.At the same time, it showed a practical way individuals and organizations can help.
Moreover, this approach matters now because many libraries face budget constraints, staffing challenges, and debates over book access. In addition, advocates argue that libraries remain one of the few public spaces offering free access to education, technology, cultural programming, and literature. Most importantly, they provide these resources regardless of income.
“Libraries change lives,” Collins said. “Many of us can point to a librarian, a book, or a library that altered the direction of our lives. Supporting them isn’t optional—it’s an investment in our communities.”
Beyond the financial awards, each winning artist visited their chosen library. They shared the news personally and encouraged the public to get involved. Their message was simple: support libraries however you can, whether by signing up for a library card, volunteering time, attending programs, or making donations.
The winning BookJoy designs are now available for purchase through the Books That Changed My Life website, extending the contest’s mission beyond National Library Week and continuing the conversation about the importance of libraries in American life.
For the artists, the contest offered recognition and a platform for their work. For the libraries, it provided meaningful support and visibility. And for readers, it served as a reminder that the joy found in books is often made possible by the public institutions that keep stories accessible to everyone.
