BY YAYOI WINFREY for WEEKLY VOLCANO 12/26/25 |
Lucky patrons of the Pierce County Library System are in for a visual treat in 2026. After the first of the year, 10,000 customers will have the opportunity to choose one of two newly designed library cards being offered to the public.
The two new cards were created by the winning artists of the Pierce County Library System Card Design Contest. Available as regular library cards, the designs by local students reflect the spirited imaginations of their creators.
Following the submission of 574 original designs by children and teens throughout Pierce County, artist Angela Larson had the responsibility of reviewing the entries. She then selected finalists in two age-group categories: elementary (ages 5–11) and middle school and high school (ages 12–18).
Once the initial selections were made, approximately 4,500 online voters participated in choosing the two winners. In addition to the two designs selected for the new cards, artwork created by other finalists will be printed on bookmarks and made available to Pierce County Library customers.
In the 12–18 age-group category, seventeen-year-old Sophia Hanson is the official winner. The innovative artist will have her artwork featured on one of the two styles of library cards.
A Running Start student at Tacoma Community College, Sophia created a whimsical design featuring a lone fairy with gossamer wings sitting atop a giant toadstool while engrossed in a book. Nearby, a hollowed-out tree holds several books on layered shelves, as does the toadstool on which the fairy is perched.
When asked what motivated her to enter the competition, Sophia responded, “I wanted to try and do something that I hadn’t done before and see what would happen.”
She has always had an interest in the arts, she said, and loves to “draw, paint, write, and do digital art.”
Admitting that she is not particularly interested in pursuing visual art as a profession, Sophia said she entered the contest for her own “personal enjoyment.”
She also noted, “It’s been fun watching other people enjoy my art, too.”
As for the process she used to develop the idea for her design, Sophia said that while doodling in her sketchbook, she was inspired to create a book nook inside a hollowed-out tree. That, in turn, led her to include a gossamer-winged fairy and a toadstool to complete her illustration.
With so many elements of nature contained within her scenic composition, Sophia may appear to be a fan of the great outdoors. While she enjoys being outside, she emphasized that it is mainly during spring and summer. “Not so much in the fall and winter,” she candidly revealed.
Although Sophia does not have a favorite visual artist, she likes the French Impressionist Monet and admires his style of painting.
When it comes to her personal reading list, the Longbranch resident said her favorite book series is currently The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, a young adult fantasy tale of an orphaned mortal girl facing off against a faerie prince. “The author actually inspired me a bit to write my own book,” Sophia said.
Along with Sophia, eleven-year-old Kaylie Kim of Edgewood will also have her winning design printed on one of the two styles of library cards.
The winner of the 5–11 age-group category, Kaylie produced a colorful piece highlighting a young reader surrounded by shelved books, as well as several vibrantly colored books spinning like a kaleidoscope through the air. The word “READ” appears in vivid red letters above the young reader’s head.
Kaylie said her inspiration came from “reading a book and imagining what’s happening” in the story.
For the elementary school student, motivation emerged from a desire “to work hard to win this contest,” she said.
Kaylie also added that she has been interested in art since she was “young,” which, of course, for her was not all that long ago.
Although she does not aspire to an art career, Kaylie expects to continue making art regardless.
Her favorite artist is Hayao Miyazaki because, she said, she loves his “style of artistic expression.” His animated feature film My Neighbor Totoro is her favorite movie.
Asked about her choice of authors, Kaylie said one of her favorite books is Wonder by R. J. Palacio. The novel tells the story of a boy with severe facial differences attempting to fit in at a new school.
Congratulations to both winners for keeping art alive for library patrons. And for users of the Pierce County Library System, do not forget to pick up a new picturesque card or bookmark at your local library.
Serving the public since 1946, the Pierce County Library System consists of nineteen libraries throughout Pierce County. Visit their website for a location near you: mypcls.org.
