For Immediate Release: April 4, 2008

Poets Of The Library Celebrate
National Poetry Month

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(Oakland, CA)—April is National Poetry Month. On Saturday, April 26, published poets who work at the Oakland Public Library will read selections from their poetry in a public celebration of American poetry. The reading will be presented at the Oakland Main Library, 125 14th Street, on the first floor, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The “Poets of the Library” event also upholds a tradition that began with Ina Coolbrith, who was both the first Director of the Oakland Public Library and the first Poet Laureate of the State of California. Andrew Demcak (Catching Tigers in Red Weather), Garry Lambrev (Dogstar and Poems from Other Planets), Nina Lindsay (Today’s Special Dish), Steve Lavoie (winner of the Mark Twain Prize for poets of the Mississippi Valley and the Doris Green Award), Teya Schaffer, Giovanna Capone (contributor to Unsettling America: an Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry), and Alan Bern (No no the saddest) will be on hand to share their verse.

All of these accomplished poets work at the Oakland Public Library, with the exception of Bern (who formerly worked for the Oakland Public Library and is now employed at the Berkeley Public Library). Bern will share the stage with dancer Lucinda Weaverin a unique collaboration. The Oakland Library has been a source of encouragement to many writers, including Jack London, Joaquin Miller, and Bret Harte, who were close friends of Ms. Coolbrith.

For more information, call the library at 238-7352, or visit the Oakland Public Library’s Website at www.oaklandlibrary.org. To request sign interpretation or other accommodation, please contact the number above at least five working days prior to the event. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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