Washington state is taking part in the 2013 Teen Video Challenge, a national competition with the aim of getting teens involved with reading and their public library’s summer reading program.

The project, sponsored by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, encourages youth from across the country to create a 30- to 90-second video with their interpretation of the theme “Beneath the Surface” to promote reading and libraries. Sponsors want to engage teens in reading before and during the summer months by being part of the process artistically. State Librarian Rand Simmons said it a great opportunity for budding filmmakers to showcase their creativity and have their ideas viewed by a national audience.

Cash awards will be given the winner(s) of each state’s winner, as well as their favorite public library. Winners will be announced in the spring.

CSLP is a grassroots consortium of states working together to provide children, teens, and families with summer reading program and promotional materials for public libraries, Simmons said.

For details about the Washington State CSLP “2013 Teen Video Challenge” and to find out how to enter, please visitwww.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/teenvideo.  The Washington State Library is a division of the Office of Secretary of State.

For more information about CSLP, visit www.cslpreads.org