Library gets new image

When the board of the Friends of the Carson City Library met earlier this month, artist Jenna Reith was there to claim her prize.

Reith created the winning design in the Friends of the Library's logo contest and did it in just a few hours.

Reith received a check for $100 and a certificate of appreciation as winner of the Friends graphic logo contest.

She was among 15 students from the Western Nevada Community College Graphic Arts Department who submitted an entry.

Reith, 38, is a graduate student and Web master who lives in Gardnerville.

"I graduated from WNCC in 1998 and then from UNR in 2001, after which I took a couple more graphic arts classes at WNCC," she said.

Reith has lived in the Carson Valley for 14 years.

The graphic logo will be used as a marketing tool on merchandise such as book bags, T-shirts and bookmarks.

Criteria for the design included use of the capital's name as well as the slogan "Nevada Reading." However, the logo that won doesn't bear the slogan.

Instead, a figure is reading a book inside an outline of the state of Nevada with Friends written above.

The library chose her submission anyway.

"Never heard about criteria," Reith said.

Reith was taking a QuarkXpress class when her instructor, Kurt Hildebrand, an editor at the Nevada Appeal, told the class about the contest.

Reith, who specializes in digital imaging, picked up the challenge.

"I've done some commercial art, but I would not say that I am a commercial artist. I specialize more in digital imaging than graphic design, but I do both."

The Carson City Library, on the corner of Roop and Washington streets, is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friends of the Carson City Library's Treasurer Maxine Cotton presented Reith with the award money and certificate earlier this month.

The Friends of the Library is a nonprofit foundation that raises funds for the library.

"We fill in where the budget doesn't; during a budget shortfall year we make up for it," Cotton said.