Just wanted to introduce myself I'm the new & first Poet Laureate of Placentia Library District (Southern California). Yesterday was my inauguration!! Tonight is the initial program for our teen poetry workshop, which I'll be leading. I've self-published 3 poetry chapbooks (40-page mini-books). In addition to poetry, I also write short essays which I occasionally submit online. Website coming soon. Hi everyone!

Can't wait for the web-site. Please keep us posted when that goes online! COngrats and tell us about last night....

oh, and how did this come about?

Back in January I decided that Placentia, my home town since 1981, needed a Poet Laureate and I was the best person for the job. I strongly believe that all the arts enrich our lives and I knew that I was capable of starting and running just about any kind of program. I just get these ideas and run with them. I pitched the idea to the Library, City Hall and Cultural Arts Committee. It's not easy trying to convince people that they need something which they didn't even know existed until I walked through the door. Process went on for 5 months. Mucho research, speaking to committees and individuals etc etc. Library said Yes and others said No.
There were a whole lot of nay-sayers along the way: people who said "it's a great idea but you'll never get anyone to go for it." This is the first Poet Laureate program anywhere in Orange County (population: about 3.5 million) and probably (although not absolutely) the first time any library in the United States has independently appointed its own Poet Laureate.

Well all the more reason to be so proud Mrs. M. My hat is off to you. You are truly inspiring!

Hello Meredith
This sounds like a wonderful idea - I'm a librarian by trade, and if I was working in a public library I would pinch (is that too Australian a word? it means steal) it!
Congratulations on starting something that will enrich people's lives enormously.

Julie, one of my many dreams/ goals is that more people will steal it! I think it would be great if more libraries (and cities, and arts committees) could make this kind of commitment to poetry, literacy, etc.

Meredithbead, if you have anything in writing that I could give to a retired (though, not old ) librarian friend of mine, please send it along. She has life-long friendships with the staff at the local library and if she likes the idea I bet we could advocate for you.

Dotsie, what kind of writing do you want? Program proposals?

Yeah, I guess that would be whatyou would call it. I could give it to my firned and she could mention it to her librarian friends and see if our local library would be interested in such a program...whatever that would take!

I am also thinking it might be a good idea for schools to do. Schools could recognize someone, have them come to the school to conduct writing workshops. You could have the PTA sponsor a book signing for the adults one evening. It would be a great way to show kids how the arts are alife-long pursuit.

Dotsie, maybe the best idea would be to give your librarian friend my website URL when it's finally up, and my email so she could ask me any specific questions. Website will have a ton of research that I've done, including the first comprehensive "data base" of all California municipal-level Poets Laureate. Data base has info on the poets, their programs and the committees which appointed them. Actually, no one I've spoken to is aware of any other similar comprehensive compilation done in any other state, but I'd need more research to say for sure.

Sounds like a plan! I'm so proud of you for setting up this model.