No one sees the world exactly the same way. Teens may share their unique point of view through the 9th-annual Fond du Lac Teens Photo Contest.

Area teens are invited to submit photos in three categories:

• Story of My Life: Craft a photo that tells a story about an aspect of who you are
• Mood: Take a photograph that sets a tone or instills a specific feeling in the viewer
• Anything Goes: Share with us any photo you have taken that you feel is award-worthy.

New for 2023: Photos that include a literary element may be given extra weight when judged, but a literary element is not required to win.

The photographer who submits the photo judged best overall will win a grand prize $250 Visa gift card. Honorable mention awards will be given for the winners of each category.

The contest is open to teens who attend school in Fond du Lac County in grades six through 12.

Deadline to enter is April 7, 2023, after which the library will gather a VIP panel to judge entries. Entries will be displayed in the library’s Langdon Divers Gallery in May.

Other teen activities scheduled for March include:

• Tuesday, March 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the Mid-States: Drop into Anime Afternoon to see a few episodes of anime and enjoy a few snacks. Cosplay is welcome.
• Tuesday, March 21 at 4:30 p.m. in the Mid-States Room: Get ready for prom by creating clutches, bow ties, corsages, and boutonnieres – all with duct tape – during Full Steam Ahead
• March 12-18: Register at fdlpl.org/teens for Browser’s Cache, which contains a checked-out library book to read and return, plus a snack, an activity, and a list of more book recommendations for you to keep. We’ll hook you up with a cache curated just for you. March’s theme is Strong Female Protagonist. Pick up your cache on the holds shelf March 19 to 25.
• Ongoing – 100 Books Before Graduation: This new, low-key reading program is geared toward busy middle school and high school students. It can be hard to find time to read for fun, but reading regularly improves cognitive skills, boosts reading comprehension, and more – so you might as well get prizes for reading. Register at the library or online, then keep track of each book you read. 

Plenty of activities are planned for younger children and their caregivers as well. Other activities include:

• Wednesday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m. in the McLane Room: Explore the life and art of Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe; projects will be adaptable for all ages. This program will be provided in partnership with Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, and will conclude with an art activity at Thelma.
• Wednesday, March 8 at 4:30 p.m. in the McLane Room: Drop in to create an adorable turtle friend during Crafty Kids. Recommended for ages 4+.
• Friday, March 17 at 1:30 or 4:30 p.m.: Paint your own not-too-terrifying tiger during Paint-Along. For ages 5+. Wear old clothes; you may get messy. Space is limited; register at calendar.fdlpl.org 
• Monday, March 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the Mid-States Room: Explore chemical reactions by creating volcanoes during the library’s monthly STEAM night.
• Friday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 25 at 9:30 a.m.: Let a favorite stuffed friend have some fun in the library after hours! Drop the stuffed friend off on March 24 and help library staff get them ready for the sleepover with some activities, stories, and more! Then, the next morning at 9:30 a.m., pick up the stuffed friend and find out about all the fun they had. Registration opens March 10. 
• Tuesday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the McLane Room: Read to a therapy dog during Paws to R.E.A.D.

Storytime for children also continues. Baby storytime will be held Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.; toddler storytime will be Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.; and preschool storytime will be held Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.

Fond du Lac Public Library operates two locations: the Main Library at 32 Sheboygan St. in downtown Fond du Lac, and FDLPL Express at 1132 E. Johnson St. near Festival Foods. The main library is open daily: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Chapter 52 Bookstore at 52 Sheboygan St. is open Monday through Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., while FDLPL Express is open weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., and weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about any of these locations, visit fdlpl.org.