Palatine Library District Celebrates National Poetry Month

Palatine Library invites you to enter its 12th annual poetry contest. Aspiring writers of all ages may submit their best original piece from Monday, March 15 through Wednesday, March 31. Work by Palatine Library District residents will be considered for the Nancy J. Heggem Poetry Awards (cash prizes, $25 each). Work by nonresidents will be considered for the Write-On Awards (gift cards). Nancy Heggem, a local poet and former Library Board member, judges and donates the prizes for the award named in her honor. Prizes for the nonresident category are judged by poets Kate Hutchinson and Terry Loncaric and provided by the Library. Winning poems will be published on the Library website in May.

Contest guidelines and entry forms are available online beginning Monday, March 1. Submit online at palatinelibrary.org/poetry. Contest open to Illinois Northwest Suburban residents only.

Winners will be announced at a special Virtual Poetry Fest on Saturday, April 24, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. The celebration includes a supportive audience and family-friendly open mic. Sign up online to receive the Zoom link. All ages are welcome to attend.

Librarian and poet Tracie Padal has helped plan and coordinate poetry month activities at the Library since its inception. “The pandemic has impacted everyone’s lives in the past year,” says Padal. “During challenging times, poetry is a powerful tool for understanding emotion and voicing change. While we welcome poems on any topic, we are especially excited to offer this opportunity at a time when we are all trying to process a year full of new feelings and difficult experiences.”

The vision of Palatine Public Library District is to inspire connection, curiosity, and joy. The District serves approximately 90,000 residents predominantly within the communities of Palatine and Hoffman Estates.