2009 PITB National Institute

On the weekend of November 6-7, 2009, librarians from across the country will gather in Poets House's acclaimed library for the sixth Poetry in The Branches National Institute.

Join Us!

Spend a weekend immersed in the rich world of poetry! Here at Poets House you will find resources for developing your library’s poetry collection, explore our 50,000-volume collection, and hear poetry from and connect personally with our guest poets. Learn how to reach out to and empower your patrons through poetry. Leave the weekend with a practical poetry plan for your library and lots of nuts-and-bolts information to help make that plan a reality. At night, eat and drink with your colleagues and experience the wealth of cultural events that New York City has to offer. You will go home refreshed and inspired!

The Poetry in The Branches National Institute will cover:

• Readings/conversations/workshops with guest poets
• Programming for teens
• Programming for adults
• Poetry programs on a shoestring budget
• Building community audiences and finding local resources
• Poetry writing workshops
• Techniques for leading poetry discussion groups
• Program publicity
• Program evaluation
• Collection development
• Marketing your poetry collection
• Our shared experience—what’s worked in libraries across the country

Registration and Agenda

I have attended this Institute twice and I would highly recommend it. After attending it 4 years ago, a colleague and I came back and launched an annual month-long celebration of poetry that our local newspaper recently called "a budding cultural tradition." The folks at Poets House understand library programming, collection development and audience development. This institute is well-worth the cost.

—Steve Sumerford
Asst. Director, Greensboro Public Library