Over 50 students showed up for yesterday’s lunchtime Poetry Reading in the library; and not just a bunch of GATE kids, either. We had a group of 6th grade boys laugh at all the mentions of love, 8th grade girls shushing them, and a collection of middle school couples who actually read love poems for each other (cue 6th graders: add fake barfing here). Some poems were serious, while others were on the silly side (I personally read my favorite poem by Jack Pretulsky, “Homework, Oh Homework, I Hate You, You Stink”). As brave leaders got up to share their poems first, the list of kids who wanted to read got longer and longer. It was a wonderful and positive event for everyone.

Writing Workshop Gets Our Authors Ready 

All week long, a group of kids have been attending a Creative Writing Workshop hosted in our library. The first day provided a very informal introduction to collaborative writing; we did acrostic poems and worked together on choosing only the best, most interesting words for our poems. We were then blessed to have a wonderful poet, mentor, and writing coach, Shawn Marie Turi, join us for some more direct instruction. She worked with a group of about 10 girls, working on opening up the creative process and helping them find confidence in their words. She tirelessly listed to poem after poem, giving feedback and suggestions for revision. Several of these young ladies proudly read their poems at Friday’s event. As we wrapped it up, one student asked if we could do this every Friday!

Now I’ve done a few very successful creative writing events in my years, one including Ms. Turi’s magical ability to get kids to take their own ideas seriously (when all their regular teachers ever get from them are eye-rolls and attitude.) What stuck me about this event is the ease in which everything came together. We didn’t need fancy staging, tons of prep, or stuffy teachers directing the whole thing. All these kids needed was a opportunity to to try reading a poem out loud, whether it was their original work or one from our library’s poetry collection, and they created their own successful experience.

Knowing that I value this, I realize the issue of money is, well, and issue. California has NO, let me repeat that, NO funding for anyone, so most Librarians are having to scramble for even the basics. I’m lucky I can still get book tape. And I know I certainly don’t approve of spending tons of cash on superficial, showy stuff.  But this is a little different. So in addition to having my aides make alot of our fabulous decor (Valentine’s Day is coming, let’s get started cutting out those construction paper hearts!) I have a trick for getting some beautiful things to bring warmth and joy to your Library for literally pennies: shop the day after. 

Our local Target store always discounts holiday items heavily as soon as the holiday passes; most places probably do. I picked up some festive garland and lights for 75% off. I’ll tuck these away, and next year, it’ll be waiting for us with every bit as much Holiday Spirit.