Getting Creative at Poetry Slam 2011

In celebration of Black History Month, Central Library hosted "Poetry Slam 2011." With events lined up for children and adults throughout February, library manager Alexandra Beswick saught to hold a special event with teens in mind.

In efforts to inspire student to write their own poetry, they were each given a pack of decorated paper and a pencil after reading a poem of their choice . During the two hour jam, poems were read from library books, improvised on the spot, written on paper and recited from the heart. As individuals sat and let the poetry flow from within and land on their paper, one poem after another was debuted to the group.

The first ever Poetry Slam at Central Library ended with a mother of three reciting a poem she wrote especially for her daughters after watching them spend the last two hours writing and reciting.