Palatine library to host a month of poetry activities
The Palatine Library will honor National Poetry Month (April) with a contest, an open mic reading, an interactive display, and a writing workshop.
Librarian and poet Tracie Padal has helped plan and coordinate Poetry Month activities at the library for the last five years.
"Our Poetry Month activities have grown a little each year, thanks to the enthusiastic support of our residents," Padal says. "We're excited to be adding publication, an interactive display and a workshop to this year's celebration, and we can't wait to see what the members of our community do with these new opportunities."
Poetry Contest
Palatine Library's fifth annual poetry contest invites valid district cardholders of all ages to submit their best original piece for a chance to win a Nancy J. Heggem Poetry Award.
The winning poems in each category (Youth, Teen, and Adult) will earn a cash prize and publication in "Spotlights," the quarterly newsletter of the Northwest Cultural Council. The cash prizes for the contest are donated by former library board member, local poet and contest judge Nancy Heggem.
Contest guidelines are available March 1 online at www.palatinelibrary.org. Submissions will be accepted from Saturday, March 15, through Tuesday, April 15. Poets may submit entries by visiting the Palatine library website, or by delivering their work to the Information Services Desk or any branch location.
Entries will be displayed in the main library.
Winners will be announced at a special ceremony and open mic event from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, May 3. All attendees will be entered into a drawing to win door prizes, including Barnes and Noble gift cards.
Reserve your slot in the open mic by signing up in person at 2:30 p.m. on the day of the event. All ages are welcome. Tickets are available April 19 at the main library.
poeTREE' display
Share your favorite poet's works on the library's "poeTREE" display. Place a poem in the box at the Reader Assistance Desk Saturday, March 1, through May 3. Library staff will attach the poem to a paper leaf and hang it on the tree.
Poetry workshop
Award-winning poet and children's book writer Janice N. Harrington will present a workshop titled "Learn Compassion through Poetry Writing" from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 1.
She will discuss how to use creative writing to find new ways to relieve the stress of daily interpersonal challenges. Come prepared to write and share. Copies of her second book of poetry, "The Hands of Strangers: Poems from the Nursing Home," will be awarded as prizes.
To sign up, call (847) 358-5881 or visit www.palatinelibrary.org.