ASU’s libraries are currently accepting entries for the annual student book-collecting contest, with prizes of up to $600 available to students with the best collections.

The contest is open to all ASU students and is designed to provide an environment where students can display their unique book collections, said Rosa Gonzalez, the event’s coordinator.

“We want to encourage those students that have a passion or love of books and a specific topic to showcase that passion,” Gonzalez said.

Entries will be judged on the extent to which they represent a singular topic or theme, and must include an essay and no more than 50 books.

After a preliminary review, the three judges will invite promising contestants to a personal interview, during which they will present their collections and converse with the judges.

ASU special collections’ librarian for Latin American and Iberian studies Melissa Guy is one of three judges this year. Guy said she is looking forward to judging the contest for the first time.

“I’m hoping to see people who are passionate about their collections.

This competition is about special collections and I have a strong interest in that,” Guy said. “I think it will be fun to see what [students’] passions are and how they connect with books.”

Multiple awards are available for graduate and undergraduate students, including two $600 first-place prizes.

No registration is necessary, but the deadline for entry is Feb. 18.

Awards will be announced in late March and presented on April 21.

“There’s a small function where we honor the donors to the libraries and award the prizes at a reception,” Gonzalez said. “Overall, I think the students should find it enjoyable.”

Past contestants, including theater for youth graduate student Craig Kosnik, said they enjoyed participating in the contest and could tell the judges were genuinely interested in the individual collections.

“I had a great experience,” Kosnik said. “When I met with the three judges, I thought it was a very relaxed environment and could tell they valued what I had to offer. The judges and the other contestants were all very interested in all the collections.”

Kosnik’s collection, which won him first prize as well as best essay in the graduate competition last year, was based on a portion of his personal comic book collection.

“I traced the history of ‘The Avengers’ from the 1960s to today,” he said. “I wanted to highlight the changes it has undergone over time and look at how the comic reflects society.”

Biological sciences senior Troy Palmer won second place in the undergraduate category last year with his collection focusing on Mormon doctrine and philosophy.

“I get a lot of enjoyment out of it and I collect more than I can read,” Palmer said. “It takes a while to build up a collection, but it’s fun to do, and I think this contest is a great way for [student collectors] to essentially get paid for something they love.”

Guy said the contest is about more than just gathering books.

“Connecting with books is a very personal process,” she said. “This isn’t about going to the library and getting resources for a paper; it’s about having a passion for books, and this is the perfect way for students to display that.”

Reach the reporter at keshoult@asu.edu.