THE MAKING OF A POEM

     The little lady stopped Irene, our genealogist in the Ellen Payne Odom Genealogical Library, and said, "Do we have to register for that poetry workshop?"
     Ah, ha!  I thought.  She read the "Save the Date" poster out in the genealogy library's foyer.
     I really thought I would have until next Tuesday to post the blog about the poetry workshop, but I could see that people are beginning to be interested NOW.  Seems like today should be the day to tell you about the workshop.
     On Saturday, March 23, at 1:00 p.m., Dr. Jeff Newberry will be here to bring his poetry workshop titled "The Making of a Poem: Live and Uncensored."
     Dr. Newberry has been here at our library before when he gave a writing workshop for war veterans.  It was amazing the number of people who turned out for it, not only men but women also.
     Now he will be talking about poetry. 
     In this course, Dr. Newberry will lead the class through a short introduction to contemporary poetry and the class will discuss some possible definitions of poetry; read a few examples of contemporary poetry; complete a guided, fun writing exercise; and the class will share their work (those will who wish to).
     The workshop aims to give beginning poets encouragement and confidence in their work.
     So, if you've always wanted to write poetry, but didn't know where to start, this is the perfect time to join Dr. Newberry and learn something.
     If you're interested in knowing who Dr. Newberry is, well...

• he is the author of two books of poetry, "Brackish" and "A Visible Sign";
• his most recent writing has been published in "Waccaaw: a Journal of Contemporary Literature" and "The Chattahoochee Review";
• he holds a PhD in English with a focus in creative writing from the University of Georgia;
• as the president of the Gulf Coast Association of Creative Writing Teachers, he's won scholarships from both the prestigious Sewanee Writers' Conference and the West Chester University Conference on Form and Narrative; and
• he teaches writing and literature at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, where he serves as a faculty advisor for "Pegasus," ABAC's regional literary magazine.

     Well qualified to show you the in's and out's of writing poetry.
     Come and join us.  You do not have to register or pay a fee.  Be sure to bring pen or pencil and paper.  Be prepared to learn something you've always wanted to do...write poetry.    

THE CAT IN THE HAT IS COMING!

     Yes, indeedy! "The Cat in the Hat" is coming to the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library!
     He's going to be here on Wednesday, March 6th, at 3:30 p.m.  Children from ages three to ten are welcome to the event, but must have an adult present with them.  Parents will need to call the library at 229-985-6540 to register their children, since the seating is filling up fast.
     The magical Reuben Haller brings to life the wacky world of Dr. Seuss, creator of "The Cat in the Hat."  And you won't believe what he brings with him to delight children and adults alike.
     Of course, I'm assuming that almost all kids know about "The Cat in the Hat."  But for those who don't, "The Cat in the Hat" is a children's book by Dr. Seuss, who was really Theodor Geisel, writing as Dr. Seuss. 
     This tall, mischievous cat wears a tall, red and white-striped hat and a red bow tie, and speaks in a delightful language.  "The Cat" appears in six of Dr. Seuss's rhymed children's books.  The series of Beginner Books not only promoted the name of Dr. Seuss, but also the cause of elementary literacy in the U.S.A. when written in 1954 in response to an article in "Life" magazine concerning the problems children had with reading. 
     The book has been popular since its publication; it has a tiny vocabulary and tells an entertaining tale.  More than 11 million copies have been printed and it has been translated into more than 12 different languages.  It was one of the "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time in a 2012 poll by "School Library Journal."
     The invitation is out...come see "The Cat in the Hat" and celebrate "Read Across America" with a few other surprises we have planned for you.
Source: Wikipedia

WE ARE BIOGRAPHY-HUNGRY

    We are in a wonderful phase at our library...a phase of interest in biographies.  They are flying off the shelves.
     It was first brought to my attention last week by our fast-moving shelver, Tiffany.  The day she told me about the biographies, she was shelving 15 of them.
     I looked through them to see what the public's interest was and found:

• The Hitler I Knew by Otto Dietrich
• Movie Stars, Real People, and Me by Joshua Logan
• Maugham by Ted Morgan
• Dutch by Edmund Morris
• My Father at 100 by Ron Reagan
• Hitler by Joachim C. Fest
• Audition by Barbara Walters
• Still Me by Christopher Reeve
• Debbie by Debbie Reynolds
• The Life of Rudyard Kipling by C. E. Carrington
• Natalie, A Memoir by Her Sister by Lana Wood
• Home by Suppertime by Martha Cash Bennett, and
• Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

     Well, I thought, that was interesting!  Maybe it's just a coincidence that people are reading all these biographies.
     Then this morning when I came to work and unlocked the office, there sticking in the edge of the door jam was a little note...Tiffany's handwriting.
     When I check with her about it, she said all those books were biographies.  Fourteen more of them!  And this time they were:

• Life Lines by Jill Ireland
• Myself Among Others by Ruth Gordon
• What Falls Away by Mia Farrow
• Don't Tell Dad by Peter Fonda
• Elizabeth Taylor, the Last Star by Kitty Kelley
• Natalie Wood by Gavin Lambert
• the biography of Lawrence Oliver
• Nothing Impossible by Christopher Reeve
• Balancing Act by Angela Lansbury
• Robert Mitchum by George Eells
• I Promised My Dad by Cheryl Landon Wilson
• Bkack Sheep One by Bruce Gamble, and
• Skinny People Are Evil by Monique.

     So, there you are.  A whole list of biographies being read by some of the best people we have here in Moultrie, some of our best library patrons.
     In talking with Johnnie, she suggested that school children, as well as our large group of  homeschooled children, that might be the reason for so many biographies being checked out.  That could be the answer.
     No matter what the reason.  It gave me a very good opportunity to let you know that we have a great selection of biographies at our library for your reading indulgence.  Not only movie stars, political figures, and inventors, but athletes, writers, and television personalities.  Take your pick.  They are all here for your enjoyment. 
     Visit us today for the best in "Love Your Library Month" reading.