Freshman Vaishnavi Ramprasad recently designed a new library card for the Ventura County Library as a part of a competition — and she won.

The contest’s goal was to get students and librarygoers to design an artistic and interesting piece that depicts “what reading is to you,” art teacher Anna Bojorquez said.

Students from various schools in the Ventura County area entered this competition with the same goal in mind -— to share art and the passion of reading. Ramprasad’s design was among one of three published on the library’s website, where the general public could vote for the winner..

“I was at the library and they said they had a contest for a new design and I just said, why not?” Ramprasad said.

Ramprasad’s interest in art started at a very early age. According to her, her interest began when her father asked her to draw a picture of Indiana Jones, and from then on, “art has honestly been one of the most important things in [her] life.”

Ramprasad found out that she won from a phone call while on vacation during the summer.

“The librarian called me and told me that I had won the contest and I was extremely surprised,” Ramprasad said.

Ramprasad’s card design features abstract and vibrant artwork with a tree emerging from an open book in the center.

“I think things come to life when you read, so the tree represents life,” Ramprasad said.

Ramprasad also tried to represent different literary genres in her artwork — for instance, the alien represents Sci-Fi and the eyeball represents mystery.

To obtain the new card, one must turn in his old library card. Before February, the card will be offered for free, and after February, it will be available for $1.