RULES and FAQ’s
+ Can anyone participate?
Yes! All books are accepted into the collection. We do not jury any of the work.
After you order a book, we'll mail you a package containing an official SBP sketchbook with a unique 6-digit barcode on it and detailed instructions about the project.
+ How do I gift someone a sketchbook?
Easy peasy! Even if you order a sketchbook with your personal credit card, have it shipped to your personal address, etc., the sketchbook can be registered to whomever you choose. Each sketchbook comes with its own unique 6-digit barcode that is registered by its author regardless of who originally purchased it.
+ A few basic rules for creating your sketchbook.
Your book must remain within the dimensions of 5 x 7” inches. It can open up to something wonderful (of any size), but it must fold down to the original dimensions. You are welcome to unbind, rebind or alter the book in (almost) any other way. If you want to use a thicker stock of paper, go for it! Your book must stay thinner than an inch when closed.
Your barcode sticker must remain in place on the book - no moving or covering it. An altered or unreadable label means we have to disqualify you from the project. Please contact us if you damaged your barcode.
Don't forget that your sketchbook is traveling and being held - please try to avoid the use of ties that can come undone, random plastic things that may fall off in transit, art materials that could smudge (like acrylic and gesso paint), glitter and any hazardous materials. Your book should be durable and be able to withstand normal wear and tear.
+ Tell me about the blank sketchbook that I’ve ordered.
Your book comes with a six-digit B number found on the back cover of your sketchbook that is unique to you!
Each book has 16 pages. 32 back and front.
PLEASE NOTE: You CANNOT send in previously made sketchbooks. All books must start with our blank book. It's part of the challenge!
+ Tell me about the Themes.
The list of VOL 18 themes are found on your direction leaflet that comes with your book. The themes are supposed to be a starting point, not a restriction, so don't feel smothered by them. You will have the option to select your theme later when you connect your book, or opt not to use one of the themes we have given you. It's all up to you!
+ Do I retain the copyright?
We have a major respect for artist ownership. By submitting to the project, you still retain ownership of your work. We own the physical sketchbook, but your work is your work. You do grant a license to use it as needed for the project, but we do our best to make sure you are always credited. We have NO plans to ever sell the original work, however, if that ever did come up, we MUST contact you with a responsible amount of time for you to respond. PLEASE REVIEW THE FULL TERMS.
+ When do I connect my book?
You can connect your book anytime between when you receive it and before you send it back.
An account is not created when your book is ordered, you get to create one at:
www.sketchbookproject.com/register
You will then be prompted to connect a book. Use your unique six-digit B# under the barcode on the back of your book to connect it.
If you have already created an account in the past, you can connect your book here:
+ I’m part of a (school, art, bookmaking, etc.) group and we want to order a pack of books together.
Well you’re in luck! Sketchbook packs of five or more automatically come with a 20% discount! Order your preferred amount here:
www.brooklynartlibrary.com/packs
+ I'm ready to send my book back.
Make sure to create an account and connect your book first! Feel free to send your book back earlier than the postmark deadline. Late books will not be a part of the traveling experiences but will be added to the shelves of our permanent collection at Brooklyn Art Library. We promise we'll let you know when we have received your completed sketchbook at Brooklyn Art Library when we are able. Please don't email us asking if we received your book. We receive a veritable ton of books in the mail every day, and checking them in by hand can be a very long process! We recommend sending it with delivery confirmation or using UPS. We do our best to be available to sign for packages, however we cannot guarantee it.
+ What happens after I send my book back?
After the postmark due date, we'll catalog all of that challenge’s books and exhibit them both at the library in Brooklyn and out of town at pop-ups and exhibits around the country. Everyone who sends their completed sketchbook back in time will have their book included, and later cataloged into our permanent collection at Brooklyn Art Library. All dates and cities for the pop-ups, tours and other exhibits are subject to change.
+ How long will it take for my sketchbook to be digitized?
Due to the size of our staff, we tend to digitize all the books at once after the postmark deadline has passed. We cannot promise your book will be digitized prior to then.
If you ordered digitizing separately after sending in your standard book, we will digitize your book with the next batch that we digitize. For example, if you send us a 2020 book after the deadline, it will be digitized with the first batch of 2021 books we digitize.
We’re a small team (of five) and every digitized sketchbook is processed manually and scanned by hand, so we really appreciate your patience!
+ Can I add digitizing to my standard book later?
You can add digitizing later, however, we recommend getting it when you order your book. Depending on the amount of books we have, your book will be added to the end of the queue so it may be digitized when we digitize the next challenge’s batch of books.
+ Digital Library FAQ's
All the books that have been purchased with digitizing are digitized after the deadline. We cannot digitize your book earlier than that. We are a small staff and need to do it all at once. Please allow 10-12 weeks after the deadline for your book to appear online. Please don't email us about it until after that time.
We are unable to digitize books vertically due to the way our digitizer is processed. Unfortunately, we are unable to issue refunds for vertical books. All of the sketchbooks in the Digital Library are displayed horizontally.
Though it seems high tech, our digitizer is old and tired. Just let us know if something looks off, we don't do it on purpose, things happen, we are only robots, I mean people...
+ How do you ship?
Depending on your location and the items you order your order may ship through USPS, DHL or FedEx.
+ How long will my order take to arrive?
Please expect 3-5 days for your order to process, and 1-2 weeks for it to ship. We appreciate your patience during this hectic time of year!
+ How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is free for domestic orders under 2lbs in the United States! International shipping costs between $7 USD and $30 USD, depending on weight and shipping location.
+ Are there countries you do not ship to?
We are able to ship to most countries at this time, however shipping costs may vary. If we run into an issue shipping your order due to cost we will contact you to discuss options. Please understand that as everywhere combats Covid-19 new shipping suspensions or delays may arise for international orders.
+ Where can I track my order?
You will receive a tracking number via email when your order ships!
+ I want to receive my order by the holidays. When should I order by?
Domestic orders in the United States should be ordered by December 15th. International orders should be placed no later than December 5th. We promise to do everything we can to ensure your order arrives on time, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee a delivery date, even if you order by the deadlines. We appreciate your understanding in these unprecedented times!
+ What happens if my order doesn’t arrive on time?
We promise to do everything we can to ensure that your order will arrive on time, but unfortunately we cannot guarantee a delivery date. We are unable to refund you for your order if it is late. We appreciate your understanding in these unprecedented times!
+ Can I ship my order to multiple locations?
Unfortunately, we cannot ship orders to multiple locations. If you would like to ship to different addresses, you will have to place multiple orders.
+ What is your return policy?
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept returns at this time. If you are unhappy with your order, please let us know and we will do what we can to help.
+ I typed my shipping address incorrectly! What do I do?
Please double check that your address is correct before placing your order! We are able to change your shipping address within one hour of the order being placed, but only between 11AM-5PM EST, Monday-Friday. If you miss this window or catch it too late, no worries! Email us at hello@brooklynartlibrary.org and we will assist you with ordering a replacement sketchbook.
+ I think my order got lost in the mail. What's next?
Oh, no! We're sorry to hear that. If you believe this is the case, please email hello@brooklynartlibrary.org with your order number and we will assist you. Please note, if you placed an order that is being shipped outside of the US, it can take up to six weeks to arrive. Unfortunately we do not have control of this, since customs can take a bit of time to process. After six weeks, if you have still not received your order, please let us know and we will send you a replacement or issue you a refund!