National Poetry Month 2004
As librarians, we value the role of reading and literature in America's culture, and we work to get interesting titles into our patrons' hands. But it's no secret that some bestsellers practically promote themselves, while promoting lesser-known literary works requires a more creative approach. National Poetry Month presents an opportunity to display, and hopefully circulate, your collection's works of poetry.
National Poetry Month was initiated in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, with the objective of celebrating poetry. Beginning on April 1, their National Poetry Almanac will be available at their Web site, http://www.poets.org. The Almanac will feature twelve themes, one for each month, leading off with "30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month" for April. Keep an eye out for "Poetry & Popcorn: Poetry on the Radio, Television, & Movie Screen"! Use the Almanac to find ways to promote and celebrate poetry throughout the year.
If it has been a while since you have read any poetry, Bibliofile recommends the following to help you get back into the habit:
Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems,
Billy Collins
Ghost Girl, Amy Gerstler
The Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems, Marilyn
Nelson
Pablo Neruda: Selected Poems (Edicion Bilingue), Pablo
Neruda
19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East,
Naomi Shihab Nye
Her Blue Body Everything
We Know: Earthling Poems 1965-1990 Complete, Alice Walker
National Library Week: April 18 - 24, 2004
| For almost fifty years, National Library Week has served
as an opportunity to both celebrate the role of libraries (and librarians)
all over the U.S., and to promote increased support of libraries and use
of their resources. National Library Week was initiated in 1954 by the
National Book Committee (formed by the American Library Association and
the American Book Publishers). Research indicated that Americans spent
more time listening to radio and watching TV than they did reading, a
trend that is probably compounded today by the allure of the Internet. The
theme of the first National Library Week was "Wake Up and Read!", a theme
that librarians today can surely still stand behind. The National Book
Committee was dissolved in 1974, and the ALA became the primary sponsor of
the event. If you currently work in a library, make use of the promotional
tools available via the ALA Web site to share National Library Week with
your patrons (and hopefully, draw some new ones into your library!). This year, the Allied Professional Association of the American Library Association will sponsor the very first National Library Workers Day on April 20. The purpose is to recognize and show appreciation for all of the library workers who provide library service throughout the year. So take a moment on April 20 to thank a library worker for the work that they do, and to advocate for libraries by submitting letters to the editor or to local representatives. A sample letter is located on the ALA Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/campaign/nlw/nationallibraryweek.htm. |
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Source: "National Library Week," American Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/factsheets/nationallibrary.htm.
Earth Day: April 22, 2004
Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970. Former Senator Gaylord Nelson (Democrat, Wisconsin) is considered the Father of Earth Day. He developed the idea of the event after observing anti-Vietnam War demonstrations in the late 1960s. His ambition was to "organize a huge grassroots protest over what was happening to our environment." Over 20 million demonstrators participated in the first Earth Day, and the event has enjoyed great visibility ever since.
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On the cusp of Earth Day's twenty-fifth birthday, Bibliofile offers some suggestions for boosting your "EQ" and living green throughout the year. First, mark your calendars for the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup, to be held statewide on Saturday, April 24. This year's theme is "Let's Pick It Up, PA!" Look around your neighborhood for an area that you can work to keep clean. If it's as small as the sidewalk in front of your home, or as large as a vacant lot, everyone's effort makes a difference. To find out how to get organized (including how to order your free trash bags, gloves, and safety vests) visit http://www.dep.state.pa.us/earthdaycentral/04/. Note that this site also contains lesson plan links, of interest to Bibliofile readers currently working in schools. |
Source: Nelson, Gaylord. "How the First Earth Day Came About." Envirolink: The Online Environmental Community. http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html.
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Department of Library & Information Science
School of Information Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Avenue
Pittsburgh , PA 15260
biblio@mail.sis.pitt.edu
