Design contest for George W's library

Architects and designers have been asked to submit sketch designs for how George W Bush’s presidential library might look.

An American magazine is offering the prize of an iPod Touch to the most creative alternative idea for the library, presented in the form of a sketch on the back of an envelope.

Each US president has a library built in their name after they leave the Oval Office. Bill Clinton’s library, designed by US architect James Polshek, opened in November 2004.

Robert A M Stern, dean of the Yale School of Architecture, has already been commissioned to design President Bush’s library, but politically-minded creatives can now come up with their own ideas for the building.

The Chronicle of Higher Education wants designs that are “serious, humourous, adventurous, or all of the above”.

The shortlisted designs will be posted online for web users to pick a winner. If the competition gets your creative juices flowing, then grab an envelope, get scribbling and send your designs to:

The Back-of-the-Envelope Bush Library Design Contest, c/o The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1255 23rd Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037.

The deadline for entries is 1 February 2008. Further details of Bush’s actual presidential library are still to emerge, though it is expected to cost as much as $500m (£250m).