Poets House at the American Library Association Conferences

For over ten years, Poets House has had a great relationship with the American Library Association, bringing Poetry Publication Showcases to the exhibits, poets to read on the LIVE! @your library stage, Poetry in The Branches pre-conferences, and exciting panel discussions with distinguished poets.

Continuing in this tradition, Poets House is pleased to join with ALA at the 2006 National Conference in New Orleans, presenting "From Poetry in The Branches to Branching Out: A New Life for Poetry in Public Libraries."

The ten-year-old Poetry in The Branches program model that trains librarians in the how-to's of poetry programming, collection development and display, has grown! In this panel discussion you will discover how the NEH-funded project, Branching Out: Poetry for the 21st Century, brings talks on classic and contemporary poets by outstanding poet/scholars to five U.S. cities. Learn to replicate this program in your library. Hear former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky give his Branching Out talk on William Carlos Williams and Robert Frost!

Speakers: Lee Briccetti, Executve Director, Poets House; Alice Quinn, Executve Director, Poetry Society of America & Poetry Editor, The New Yorker; Geraldine Harris, Assistant City Librarian, New Orleans Public Library. Moderator: Marsha Howard, Poetry in The Branches Coordinator, Poets House & retired Coordinator of Adult Services, The New York Public Library.

This program will be given on Sunday, June 25, 2006 from 1:30pm-3:30pm at the 2006 ALA National Conference in New Orleans.