Update: For information on this year's contest click here. To read the Unshelved comic strip sequence that inspired it all start here.

This was a bigger deal than we anticipated. We thought our "Pimp my Book Cart" contest was a funny idea that would spawn a dozen or so entries. But it seemed to spark something, and we started hearing from folks all over the country. It even spawned a "Pimp my Book Trolley" contest Down Under in Australia (we're judging that one too).

Still, by last week we figured all the fuss had been just that, and that it was still going to be just a few contenders. But then a few days before the deadline, in a display of procrastination that impressed Bill, they started pouring in. We ended up getting over 100. Gene and I scrambled to organize and evaluate them (thanks, iPhoto!). Several times at ALA we left our booth in the capable hands of our store manager Jana so that we could look at almost 400 pictures of book carts that had been pimped up, down, in, and out. Finally this morning we reached agreement on the winner, several runners-up, and many honorable mentions. In the next week we'll publish a mostly complete list of the entries, but we didn't want to delay the big announcement. And so, without further ado:

Grand Prize: Pink Cadillac by Katie George and the teens of the Miller Branch Library in Ellicot City, MD

This pink and white piece of classic American steel caught our hearts and never let go. It's a simple design, just cow horns, headlights, sleek vinyl book seats and (vaguely disturbing) tailfins, but it was executed perfectly and very pinkly, and we couldn't take our eyes off it.

Katie and her teens receive a $250 gift certificate to our store plus a custom piece of Unshelved art by Bill.

Runner-Up: 3-way Tie

We simply couldn't decide between these three great book carts, so we chose them all. Each will receive a $50 gift certificate to our store.

Big Wheels by William Tatakch and the Albany Public Library

This baby has 15" 'all-library' tires on 5-spoke aluminum wheels, "off-stack" driving lights, heavy-duty suspension, and two-tone paint. It was the wheels, along with the working lights, that did it for us.

Support Glitteracy by Amanda, Emily, Garrett, Kelsey, and Linda at the Olympia Timberland Library

Just the words "Support Glitteracy" were almost enough. This hippie bus complete with hookah wowed everyone we showed it to.

VW Bus by Nancy Chmiel and the teens at the Omaha Public Library

With authentic parts from the Omaha VW club, and built in the basement of Cram Auto Parts, this peace-loving bus of a book cart is the real thing.

Feb 20 morning Spartanburg, SC
Spartanburg Public Library Staff Day (staff only)
Keynote (Gene & Bill)

Feb 20 7pm Columbia, SC
USC LISSA event
Program (Gene & Bill)

Mar 13-17 Philadelphia, PA
Public Library Association
Booth (Gene & Bill)

Mar 30-April 1 Seattle, WA
Emerald City Comic Con
Booth (Gene & Bill)

April 13-15 Chicago, IL
Chicago Comic Entertainment Expo
Booth & Talk (Gene & Bill)