Some say that "April is the cruelest month," but it isn't when you enjoy poetry or want to celebrate the services that libraries provide!
National Poetry Month
The clebration of National Poetry Month was begun in April 1996 by the
Academy of American Poets. They encourage publishers, booksellers,
libraries, literary organizations, schools, as well as poets to come
together "to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture."
The Academy of Poets planned many events during the course of April. on
April 8th, in New York City, the Poet Laureate, Robert Pinsky, presented
a program where children and writers (including Erica Jong and Jamaica
Kincaid) read their favorite poems.
The Children's Book Council launched Young People's Poetry Week (April
12-18). A month of poetry readings at public libraries across the U.S.
is being sponsored by the Urban Libraries Council and Berks County, PA is
holding a month long celebration of poetry with workshops, readings, and
lectures.
The Academy of American Poets claims that National Poetry Month has
involved thousands of organizations and people in comunities throughout
the U.S. and Canada. Reportedly, booksellers found that book sales have
risen and increasing interest in poetry among children and teenagers has
been noticed by librarians and teachers.
Libraries all over the country are holding events to promote poetry. The
Carnegie has held a poetry festival for children and several poetry
readings at their various branches.
If National Poetry Month is new to you or you want to find out more
information about it, check out the Academy of American Poets Web site at
www.poets.org
National Library Week (April 11-17)
Also celebrated in April is National Library Week. This year's theme was
"Read! Learn! Connect! @ the Library." It is a week to recognize all the
library has to offer and a way to connect with the community by holding
special events. ALA especially encourages libraries to use this week to
reach out to the community through public service announcements,
newspaper articles, and programs.
The ALA president, Ann K. Symons, said that "National Library Week is a
time to celebrate this great democratic institution and the freedom we
enjoy as Americans to read, learn, and connect to ideas and information."
An ALA article cited the fact that two thirds of Americans say that they
go to the library to get books, use computers, and find other resources.
With the renewed interest in customer service, it seems appropriate that
librarians would continue to encourage more people to come to the library
to "Read! Learn! Connect!"
More information about this year's National Library Week can be found on
the ALA Web page (www.ala.org).