Contest Dates
Entries Accepted: September 1, 2026 – November 20, 2026
Winner Announced: December 1, 2026
The Sandusky Library invites photographers of all ages and skill levels to enter our Winter 2027 Cover to Cover: Cover Photo Contest! Show us your creative interpretation of the love of reading, libraries, books, literacy, or learning. One Grand Prize winner and up to three Honorable Mentions will be selected. The Grand Prize-winning photograph will be featured on the front cover of the Winter 2027 Cover to Cover newsletter, and the photographer will receive recognition for their work. Honorable Mention photographs will also be featured throughout the Winter 2027 issue.
PLEASE READ ALL RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Contest Rules
Entries must be original photographs taken by the person submitting them and should creatively represent the theme of libraries, books, reading, literacy, or the joy of learning. Photos must be in portrait orientation and may be submitted in either color or black and white. Digital images should be submitted as JPEG (.jpg) files with a minimum resolution of 2400 × 3000 pixels (approximately 7.2 megapixels) and should not exceed 20 MB in file size. Printed photographs are also accepted and must be no smaller than 8” × 10” and no larger than 11” × 14”. Entries may be dropped off at the Sandusky Library, mailed to Sandusky Library, ATTN: Cover Photo Contest, 114 West Adams Street, Sandusky, OH 44870, or emailed to covercontest@sanduskylib.org. Each submission must include the photograph’s title, the photographer’s name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number. All entries must be received by November 20, 2026. The winning photographer will be notified prior to the public announcement on December 1, 2026. Questions about the contest may be directed to covercontest@sanduskylib.org.
CLICK HERE to download a photo release form . This form must be included with any submission that contains any recognizable person. (Face or side profile)
The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian submit the entry on their behalf or provide written consent.
Participants must be a resident of Sandusky, Perkins Township, Margaretta Township, or Kelleys Island.
Limit of two (2) entries per photographer.
Photographs must not have watermarks, logos, borders, or added text.
Images created entirely or partially using generative artificial intelligence tools are not eligible. Standard photographic editing tools (such as cropping, exposure adjustment, color correction, sharpening, and dust removal) are permitted. Photographs should be high enough quality for magazine-quality printing.
Printed photographs may be scanned for publication. While reasonable care will be taken, the Library is not responsible for damage occurring during handling or mailing.
Photographs must not infringe on anyone else’s copyright.
A model release is required for any person who is a primary identifiable subject of the photograph.
By entering, photographers grant the Sandusky Library a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to reproduce, publish, display, and promote the submitted image in print, digital publications, social media, exhibits, and other Library promotional materials. Copyright remains with the photographer. The photographer retains copyright to their image.
Entries will be judged based on creativity, interpretation of the contest theme, technical quality, composition, and overall suitability for publication.
Library employees and contest judges (and their immediate family members) are not eligible to enter.
The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence regarding judging will be entered into.
The Sandusky Library reserves the right not to award a winner if no submission meets publication standards.
Entries that do not follow the rules or theme may be disqualified.
Winning photograph may be cropped or resized to fit the cover layout while maintaining the integrity of the image.
No entry fee is required.
Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of all contest rules.
Printed photographs may be picked up from December 1 through January 31, 2027. Entries not claimed by January 31, 2027, become the property of the Sandusky Library and may be discarded.