University students who have a passion for collecting books can compete for prizes of $750 and $500 by entering the 16th Annual Neureuther Student Book Collection Competition.
Sponsored by University Libraries, the Neureuther Competition is designed to encourage students to read for enjoyment and to develop personal libraries or book collections throughout their lives.
For the competition, a collection can be on any subject and should reflect the owner’s intellectual or personal interests.
There are actually two competitions: one for graduates and one for undergraduates, with a first prize of $750 and a second prize of $500 awarded at each level.
Entrants must be full-time, current students at the University and must supply a completed entry form; a two-to four-page essay about the collection; a bibliography listing the books in the collection; and a sampling of books from the collection.
Entry forms and other information are available at library.wustl.edu/collections/neureuther.html.
Students should deliver their entry materials to the administrative office on the main level of Olin Library weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. until March 17.
Judges will consider the collection’s scope, thematic unity, personal value to the collector and other factors. Winners will be announced and awards presented in April.
The Neureuther competition is made possible by the financial contributions of Carl Neureuther, a 1940 alumnus.