Palatine Public Library District Celebrates National Poetry Month
Palatine Library invites you to enter its ninth annual poetry contest! Aspiring writers of all ages may submit their best original piece from Thursday, March 15 through Sunday, April 15.
Work by Palatine Library District residents will be considered for the Nancy J. Heggem Poetry Awards (cash prizes). Work by nonresidents will be considered for the Write On Awards (gift card prizes). Nancy Heggem, a local poet and former library board member, judges and donates the prizes for the award named in her honor. Prizes for the nonresident category are judged by poets Kate Hutchinson and Terry Loncaric, and provided by the library.
Contest guidelines and entry forms are available online beginning Thursday, March 1. Complete an entry form with submission and deliver to staff at any District location, or submit online at www.palatinelibrary.org/poetry. Entries will be displayed in the Main Library in April, as space permits.
Winners will be announced at a special Poetry Fest on Sunday, May 6, from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. The celebration includes light refreshments, prize drawings, a supportive audience, and a family-friendly open mic. Sign up online to reserve your seat. For the Open Mic, register in person from 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the Poetry Fest. All ages are welcome to attend. Librarian and poet Tracie Padal has helped plan and coordinate Poetry Month activities at the Library for the last nine years. "Every year, we are newly amazed by our community's passion for creative expression, as well as the quantity and quality of the poetry generated by this call for submissions," says Padal. "We hope that this contest encourages aspiring writers to keep honing their talents, and we can't wait to read this year's entries."
Not a poet? Visit our interactive display of Blackout Poetry to create an instant poem by crossing out words from a page of text.
Palatine Public Library District is your destination for knowledge, entertainment, and community. The District serves approximately 90,000 residents predominantly within the communities of Palatine and Hoffman Estates.