The Friends of Westhampton Free Library is encouraging students to enter its annual poetry contest in observance of National Poetry Month in April.
The contest, which is now in its ninth year, is co-sponsored by the library, itself, for the first time in 2016 in an effort to broaden the reach to more local youth.
“They are a critical partner and we are excited about this joint effort to promote poetry amongst children,” library director Danielle Waskiewicz. said of the Friends of Westhampton Free Library.
It is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The theme this year is “Friendship.”
Claudia Wasserman, a Remsenburg resident and a member of the Friends of Westhampton Free Library, has spearheaded the contest for the past eight years. She helped publish, through Pine Barrens Printing, a compendium of winning entries and selected poems from the first five years of the contest. This year’s winners may be published in a compendium next year covering the 2013 to 2017 contests. Poems are also published throughout the year in the library newsletter.
Poems—up to three per student—must be submitted by Friday, April 1. The poems will be judged within appropriate age ranges. A poetry reading, where cash prizes will be presented, will be held on April 17 at the library, 7 Library Ave, Westhampton Beach. For more information, call (631) 288-3335 or visit westhamptonlibrary.net.
on Mar 16, 2016