Greensburg Hempfield Area Library Standard Contest Official Rules and Regulations

Greensburg Hempfield Area Library’s (“GHAL”) {NAME OF CONTEST/RAFFLE/SWEEPSTAKES} (“contest”) will be held from {Day, Date, Time} through {Day, Date, Time}.

One winner will be chosen at random. Odds of winning are dependent upon the number of entries. Purchase or use of GHAL products or services are not necessary to enter and do not increase the odds of winning.

ALL FORMS MUST BE FILLED OUT COMPLETELY AND TRUTHFULLY. FAILURE TO PROVIDE TRUTHFUL AND PERTINENT INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE CONTEST. DISQUALIFICATION IS THE SOLE DISCRETION OF GHAL.

GHAL’s {NAME OF CONTEST/RAFFLE/SWEEPSTAKES} will be conducted substantially as described in these Official Rules (“Rules”).  Participation in the Contest constitutes entrant's full and unconditional agreement to, and acceptance of, these Official Rules.  This Contest may be temporarily postponed or discontinued at any time without prior notice. The Contest is void where prohibited and is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

This Contest, and all Contest material, is © 2025 by GHAL.  All rights reserved.

1. Eligibility:  Entrants must be legal US residents, at least 18 years of age as determined by GHAL, and must reside in the state of Pennsylvania and within the Westmoreland County service area of GHAL.  Members of GHAL, their affiliates, GHAL and their wider organization and members of the immediate families of such persons ARE eligible to participate and win.  The term “immediate family” includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, and any other person residing at the same household whether or not related.  Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. 

2.  Contest Period: The Contest period begins on {Day, Date, Time} through {Day, Date, Time}.  GHAL reserves the right to shorten or extend the Contest Period. One winner will be announced no later than {Day, Date}, or after the winner has been notified and authorizes release.

3.  Contest Entry:  To voluntarily enter Contest, a ticket(s) must be purchased. No limit to number of entries. Any entries deemed inappropriate will be disqualified at the discretion of GHAL. Purchase of GHAL products or services are not necessary to enter. One winner will be announced no later than {Day, Date}. All entries become the property of GHAL and will not be returned. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

4.  Prize: Only one prize will be awarded. Winner is responsible for any and all fees, taxes or other expenses related to the winning of this Contest. Winner is responsible for pick-up of prize and any associated expenses. Prize is non-transferable. No substitutions allowed. Prize is not redeemable for cash.

5. Winner Notifications:  The winner will be notified by electronic mail or telephone call after {Day, Date}, or after winner have been notified and authorize release. Winner must have valid photo identification, an email address and phone number where he/she can be notified. GHAL will attempt to contact winner via telephone three (3) times and/or by email, waiting for reply up to three (3) days, before reserving the right to award the prize to another winner or none at all.

6.  Prize Acceptance/Restrictions:  Only one (1) winner per household per six (6) month period. Winner is subject to verification by GHAL of the winner’s name, age, address, phone number, and Social Security number (where the prize value is equal to or greater than $600.00). The winner can pick up the prize at the Library or have the prize mailed certified (Winner must pay shipping prior to shipment and signature required at time of delivery). No entries from individuals younger than the age of eighteen (18) will be accepted. If a winner is disqualified, GHAL reserves the right to determine an alternate winner or to not award the prize at all.  Prize cannot be redeemed for cash or substituted for any other items by any winner. Prize is non-assignable and non-transferrable. GHAL reserves the right to substitute a comparable prize of like or greater value, for any prize, for any reason. Costs of transportation and accommodations, where applicable, are the sole responsibility of the of the winner.

7. Publicity Release: By participating in the Contest, each entrant acknowledges that his/her entry in the Contest constitutes that entrant’s consent to contact, use, publish, reproduce and for all purposes, including publicity, promotion and advertising, in any media (including without limitation, the Internet, television or offline promotions), the name, voice, likeness, and any portion thereof of the winner listed on the entry form or ticket, each extending throughout the universe and in perpetuity without further compensation, credit or right of review or approval, except where prohibited by law. GHAL upholds and abides by the federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the safety and privacy of personal information.

8. Telephone and Delivery Disclaimer: GHAL disclaims all liability for the inability of a participant to complete or continue a telephone call due to equipment malfunction, busy lines, inadvertent disconnections, acts beyond GHAL’s control, or otherwise. GHAL disclaims all liability for any delays, mis-delivery, loss, or failure in the delivery of any item sent by mail, courier, express, electronic transmission, or other delivery method. GHAL is not responsible for mechanical, technical, computer, hardware or software errors, malfunctions, or failures of any kind, including failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed transmission of entries, traffic congestion on telephone lines, the Internet or at any website or lost or unavailable network connections, which may limit an entrant’s ability to participate in the Contest, and any injury or damage to entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in or downloading any information necessary to participate in the Contest. GHAL reserves the right to cancel the Contest if it becomes technically corrupted.

ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY CIRCUMVENT, DISRUPT, OR DAMAGE ORDINARY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST, TELEPHONE SYSTEMS OR WEBSITE, OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, GHAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AND TO DISQUALIFY ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST OR ANY OTHER CONTEST.

9. Taxes: Any valuation of the prize is based on available information provided to GHAl, and the value of the prize awarded to a winner may be reported for tax purposes as required by law. All taxes, including federal, state, and local taxes, are the sole responsibility of the winner. Any person winning over $600.00 in total prizes will receive a 1099 form from GHAL at the end of the calendar year and a copy of such form should be filed with the IRS. The winner must provide GHAL with valid identification, and a valid taxpayer identification number or Social Security number for total prizes valued at $600.00 or more, before any prize will be awarded.

10. Conditions: GHAL reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Contest or any portion hereof, or to disqualify any individual implicated in any of the following actions, if for any reason: (a) tampering, unauthorized intervention, actions by entrants, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which, in GHAL’s sole opinion, corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, (b) the Contest becomes corrupted or does not allow the proper processing of entries per these Rules, (c) the Contest is otherwise not capable of running as planned, (d) the Contest entry form or ticket have been fraudulently recreated and/or the Contest entry forms have been filled out and photocopied. By entering, entrants represent that they are eligible and agree to be bound by and comply with the Rules and the decisions of any judges. Any entrant who attempts to tamper with this Contest in any way or use fraudulent means to participate in and/or win the Contest shall be disqualified. GHAL reserves the right to disqualify any entrant at any time, for any reason, including, without limitation, language, activities or behavior deemed inappropriate. GHAL and their agencies are not responsible for cancellations, postponements, or delays. Other than the prizes received by the winner, no entrant shall be entitled to receive any wages, benefits, fees or other compensation whatsoever as a result of participating in the Contest. GHAL shall have the sole discretion to administer the Contest and interpret and apply the Official Rules.

11. Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the Official Rules and decisions of GHAL, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless GHAL, Westmoreland County Libraries, their boards, and their respective affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, officers, directors, employees, representatives, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons, including but not limited to death or property damage resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize. In consideration for his or her participation in the Contest, each parent/guardian of entrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the Released Parties from any and all claims, demands and/or causes of action of any nature or kind whatsoever, whether presently known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, that arise out of the entrant’s participation in the Contest, including attorneys’ fees.

12. Limitation of Liability: The Released Parties are not responsible or liable for any incorrect or inaccurate entry information or other errors in the printing, offering or administration of the Contest or in the announcement of the prize(s) and assume no responsibility for (i) any error, omission, interruption, defect or delay in operation or transmission at any website, or wireless calling service, interrupted or unavailable network, server or other conditions, (ii) failure of any entry to be received by GHAL due to technical problems, delayed delivery, telephone service problems, human error, or wireless calling service, (iii) communication line, hardware and/or software failures, malfunction of phones (including wireless phones/handsets), phone lines, other communications malfunctions, unavailable network connections, cellular equipment towers, telephone systems or wireless service, (iv) damage to any computer (software or hardware) resulting from participation in the Contest, or damage to mobile phone or other PDA device, (v) theft or destruction of, tampering with, unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries and/or entry information, or (vi) entries which are late, lost, stolen, damaged, illegible, and/or unintelligible (or any combination thereof). Any expenses incurred by the entrant during the entry/application process, including but not limited to, postage are the sole responsibility of each entrant and the GHAL will not issue reimbursement for any expenses.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES.

13. Choice of Law/Forum: All entrants agree, by participation in the Contest, to submit to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania law shall govern this Contest, without regard Pennsylvania’s choice of law rules. The courts of Pennsylvania shall be the exclusive forum for any dispute regarding any Rule or activity associated with the Contest.

14. Official Rules: To request a copy of the Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601, by {Date}..

15. Names of Winners: For a list of prize winner(s), send a separate, self-addressed, stamped envelope to Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601, no later than {Date}.

16. Compliance with Law: The conduct of the Contest is governed by the applicable laws of the United States of America, which take precedence over any rule to the contrary herein. GHAL shall follow the applicable laws for conducting this Contest.