Get those thoughts down on paper if you want to take part in an essay competition organised by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna in association with The Irish Times and International Education Services.

If I were in Charge of the Library/ Da mbeinn i gceannas ar an leabharlann - that's the topic. Prizes will be awarded in two categories: under 14 years and under 18 years. The winning essays in both categories will be published in this newspaper.

Entries of no more than 1,000 words can be hand-writtem or typed. They should be sent by Friday, February 26th, to your local public library or The Director, An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, 53-54 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2. For information contact An Chomhairle Leabharlanna - phone (01) 676 1167, fax (01) 676 6721, email libcounc@iol.ie