Happy National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month and we are excited to have events, programming, and displays all month long!

Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month is a special occasion that celebrates poets’ integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and—of course—poets, marking poetry’s important place in our lives (poets.org).

Throughout the month of April, stop in to view our displays in the children's room, teen room, and reference area.

Test out your poetry skills and creativity by participating in our repetitive poetry writing challenge. Submit by the end of April to be entered in the prize drawing. Poetry packets are available in these locations in the library:

• Circulation Desk

• Children's Room

• Reference Desk

• Teen Room

• Spanish Bulletin Board

Join us Thursday, April 17th at 6:00 p.m. for a Poetry Zine Workshop with Rachel Kurtz. Enjoy mixing poetry with images in this playful, experimental workshop. No artistic or poetic skill is necessary. By the end of the workshop, you’ll learn to fold and create a mini poetry zine. Registration is required for this event.

Finally, join us Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:00 p.m. for our annual Open Mic: Music and Poetry Night with our MC, Chris Hantman. Sign ups for 5-minute slots begin at 5:15 p.m. Feel free to read poetry you've written in the past, perform spoken word, sing an original song, or read one of the repetitive poems you wrote for our challenge!

For inspiration, check out these titles that are available at our library: