Summer Reading Design Contest

Submitted by Pamela Tully, Rutherford Public Library

Rutherford Public Library celebrated the winners of its Summer Reading Design contest at the May 11 Rutherford Borough Council meeting. Mayor Frank Nunziato presided as Barbara Bivin, a Friends of the Library of Rutherford board member, presented the winners with a certificate, award ribbons, and a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. 

Sreya Sriju, First Place Winner

First place went to Sreya Sriju, whose winning design is on the cover of the Summer Reading Club reading logs children use to track their reading and earn awards as they hit certain milestones. Second place winner Emma Gauger and third place winner Anna Ustica submitted designs that the judges also ranked highly. 

Every year, Rutherford Public Library’s children’s librarian Miss Jane (Tarantino) holds a competition for Rutherford children to create the cover of the summer reading log for the Summer Reading Club. The 2026 theme is “Unearth a Story” and suggested a focus on dinosaurs and paleontology. 

The library received more than 50 entries this year and held a blind vote to determine the winners. The Friends of the Library of Rutherford, a volunteer group that supports activities at the library, sponsors the contest, as well as supports the summer programs and prizes for the Summer Reading Program. The Rutherford Public Library invites Rutherford children, ages 3 through grade 6, to sign up for the Summer Reading Club and earn prizes for reading (and being read to) all summer long! Miss Jane schedules visits with local classes (grades 1-3) to explain the Summer Reading Club; however, if any Rutherford children are not scheduled to visit the library with their class, they can sign up online or in person at the main desk. Rutherford Public Library also offers a Summer Reading Program for teens and adults. Teens earn prizes with a punch card to log their reading; and adults get a Summer Reading Book Bingo card to earn prizes and a chance to win gift cards to local businesses. 

Pictured from left to right, adults: Councilman John Errico, Councilman Matthew Cokeley, Councilman Dennis Mazone, Friends of the Library Board Member Barbara Bivin, Mayor Frank Nunziato, Councilman Ray Guzman, Rutherford Children's Librarian Jane Tarantino, Councilwoman Stephanie McGowan. Children: First place winner: Sreya Sriju, Second Place: Emma Gauger, Third Place: Anna Ustica. 

To register online, visit rutherfordlibrary.org/summer-reading-26/