Andersen to hold Elmer National Libraries Day competition

Andersen Press has teamed up with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals to launch the Elmer National Libraries Day competition as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations for the press and its colourful patchwork elephant, Elmer.

The competition, launching on 6th February - National Libraries Day - will invite public and school library professionals to enter a photography challenge around the 40th anniversary to win £1,500 worth of furniture and books for their library.

Five winning libraries will be awarded with a complete set of Elmer furniture from Peter Books and Furniture, as well as their entire 2016 publishing front list, as part of the competition.

The winners will be announced on the first "Elmer Day" taking place on Saturday 28th May.

Elmer creator David McKee said: "From when she could first read until her death at 95, my mother was a passionate reader. She could never have afforded to buy even a small part of what she read. She depended on the library for advice and choice of book. There is a rich mass of literature that is our heritage. Thanks to the library, my mother was able to tap into that heritage and receive enormous pleasure and knowledge. That same possibility has to be available to everyone. Long live the libraries!"

Andersen Press founder and publisher Klaus Flugge added: "Andersen Press has a long history of working closely with libraries and we value thier important work under ever more difficult conditions more than ever. We want to continue to support the libraries in our 40th anniversary year and beyond!"

Popular picture book character Elmer has been translated into over 50 languages. Andersen Press has published 23 original Elmer picture books since the first Elmer story in 1989 as part of a character brand publishing programme that now includes a range of novelty and board books.