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 Tarrytown, NY - This fall will bring the return of Poetry Westchester!, a sparkling initiative of Poets House funded by the Westchester Library System (WLS) through the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
Poetry Westchester! will bring free writing workshops for teens and adults and poetry readings and performances to nine libraries in Westchester, a county rich in literary history and appreciation.
The Mount Pleasant Public Library will once again be the “county seat” for Poetry Westchester! The library will feature poetry writing workshops for teens and adults, with talented poet, author, and teacher Joanna Fuhrman serving as the poet-in-residence. Special programs include a performance of the poetry and prose of Federico Garcia Lorca with guitar accompaniment, a talk by award winning poet Vijay Seshadri on the award-winning 20th century author and poet Elizabeth Bishop, and more.
Libraries in Pelham, Irvington, Hastings, Mount Vernon, Ossining, Somers, Rye, and White Plains will host individual poetry workshops for teens or adults. Each will be led by an accomplished poet who has experience in guiding participants to create poetry in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Workshops will conclude with a poetry publication celebration at which participants will receive a copy of an anthology of their group’s work.
"Participants in last spring’s workshops praised everything from ‘the camaraderie between participants and the instructor’ to ‘the creation of a fertile, evocative space in which to write,’” says Marsha Howard, Poetry in The Branches Coordinator. “In fact, the only thing missing was more, and now, we’re delighted to fulfill that request.”
The idea behind “Poetry Westchester!”, which is modeled after the Poets House initiative, Poetry in The Branches (PITB), is to create a poetry “mindset” for the library users and staff members and to generate as many ways as possible for people to “bump into” poetry. This includes improved poetry collections, displays and a wide range of imaginative programs.
For more information on “Poetry Westchester!” programming, please contact your local library or Marsha Howard, Poetry in The Branches Coordinator, at 212-431-7920 x2213 or
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About Poets House
Poets House is a 50,000 volume poetry library and literary center. Based in SoHo for the past two decades, the Poets House reading room is currently closed in advance of its move, in late 2008, to a majestic new waterfront facility in Battery Park City. Founded in 1985 by the late Stanley Kunitz and Elizabeth Kray, the organization has a distinguished record of innovative poetry programming and currently presents over 200 public events per year, including panels, lectures, readings, art exhibits, writing workshops and walking tours in New York City and nationwide. Its signature program, the Poets House Showcase, is an unparalleled annual exhibit of all the poetry published in the United States. Each year, Poets House adds the bibliographic records from the Showcase to its free, fully-searchable online database, the Directory of American Poetry Books. With over 20,000 titles, the directory contains the most comprehensive information about U.S. poetry books and publishers from 1990 through 2007. For more information, visit www.poetshouse.org.
About the Westchester Library System
The Westchester Library System, (WLS) includes 38 member libraries located throughout the County and is one of New York State's 23 public library systems. WLS and its member libraries have a total collection of 5.6 million items, including 4 million books, as well as audio recordings, videocassettes, DVDs, print serials, and other materials. Support from WLS helps expand and enhance the services and resources of local member libraries, enabling them to better serve the public. WLS also ensures that all county residents have excellent library service on-site and on-line. A sponsor of year-round events, WLS helps coordinate featured author events, the annual Book and Author Luncheon, and seasonal reading initiatives. The WLS Adult and Outreach Services Department offers improved access to library services for all residents, training and development of library personnel, services to disadvantaged youth, and the fee-based WEBS Career and Educational Counseling service. WLS celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008. For more information, visit www.westchesterlibraries.org.
Poetry Westchester! Schedule for Fall/Winter 2008
Mount Pleasant Public Library - 350 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY
Please call (914) 769-0548 to register
Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Joanna Fuhrman
Mondays, September 8, 15, 22, October 6 at 4:30pm
Sunday, November 16 at 2:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Joanna Fuhrman
Mondays, September 15, 22, October 6 at 7:00pm
Sunday, November 16 at 2:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca (a dramatic reading with guitar accompaniment)
Sunday, December 7 at 2:00pm
Neglected No More! Samuel Menashe Recital
Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 2:00pm
Recipient of the first Neglected Masters award from the Poetry Foundation, Samuel Menashe gives a recital, (yes, from memory!), and discusses his life and work. His latest book, Samuel Menashe: New and Selected Poems was published in 2005 as part of the Library of America’s American Poets Project.
Poets on Poetry: Vijay Seshadri on Elizabeth Bishop
Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 2:00pm
In this talk, award-winning poet Vijay Seshadri will examine the origins and the scope of Bishop's visionary ambitions and her ability to expose, in small poems and large, the fundamental questions underlying our experience.
Hastings-on-Hudson Public Library - 7 Maple Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Please call (914) 478-3307 to register
Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Estha Weiner
Saturdays, September 13, 20, 27 at 2:00pm
Saturday, October 18 at 2:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Pelham Public Library - 530 Colonial Avenue, Pelham, NY
Please call (914) 738-1234 to register
Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Jason Schneiderman
Thursdays, October 16, 23, 30 at 7:00pm
Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 pm (group reading/publication party)
Rye Free Reading Room - 1061 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY
Please call (914) 967-0480 to register
Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Steven Sher
Thursdays, October 30, November 6, 13 at 7:00pm
Thursday, December 4 at 7:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Somers Public Library - 80 Primrose Street, Katonah, NY
Please call (914) 232-5717 to register
Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Steven Sher
Thursdays, September 11, 18, and 25 at 10.30am
Thursday, October 16 at 7:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Ossining Public Library - 53 Croton Ave Ossining, NY
Please call (914) 941-2416 to register
Teen Poetry Writing Workshop
Thursdays, October 23, 30, November 6, 13 at 3:30pm
Thursday, December 4 at 3:00pm (group reading/publication party)
White Plains - 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, NY
Please call (914) 422-1400 to register
Teen Poetry Writing Workshop
Tuesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28 at 5:00pm
Tuesday, November 18 at 5:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Irvington Public Library - 12 South Astor Street, Irvington-on-Hudson, NY
Please call (914) 591-7840 to register
Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Joanna Fuhrman
Wednesdays, October 15, 22, 29, November 5 at 4:00pm
Wednesday, December 3 at 4:00pm (group reading/publication party)
Mount Vernon Public Library - 28 South First Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY
Please call (914) 668-1840 to register
Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Clara Sala
Wednesdays, October 8, 15, 22, 29 at 6:00pm
Wednesday, November 19 at 6:00pm (group reading/publication party)
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