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Minnesota Book Awards
Irish poet Mary O'Malley of County Galway will receive the 13th annual Lawrence O'Shaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry from the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies.
O'Malley will read from her work at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, in Room 126 (auditorium) of John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts on St. Thomas’ St. Paul campus. The reading, free and open to the public, will cap a week of events, classroom visits and public appearances by the poet.
O'Malley also will participate in a public conversation with poet Margaret Hasse, on the topic "Going Away, Coming Home: Poetry and Displacement." The event begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at the Hamline Midway Branch Library. Hasse is the author of three books of poetry: Stars Above, Stars Below (New Rivers, 1984), winner of the Minnesota Voices competition; In a Sheep's Eye, Darling (Milkweed, 1988) and Milk and Tides (Nodin Press, 2008), a finalist for this year's Minnesota Book Award. Both events are co-sponsored by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.
March 16 - April 29
Join The Friends for a series of events where you can create, listen to, and be engaged by poetry. Celebrate National Poetry Month with events for poetry enthusiasts of all ages!
Poetry offers mastery of language, and stocks the mind with images and ideas in unforgettable words and phrases. Poetry trains and develops our emotional intelligence. Poetry lets us see the world through other eyes, and equips us imaginatively and spiritually to face the joys and challenges of our lives.
Readings/Performances
Wednesday, March 25, 7 p.m.
Highland Park Branch Library, 1974 Ford Parkway
Listen to the work of Saint Paul poets with readings from James Cihlar, John Minczeski, Jim Moore, Wang Ping, William Reichard and Katrina Vandenberg.
Saturday, April 4, 11:15 a.m.
Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street
Saturday Live! presents “The Poetry of Puppetry.”
Friday, April 10, 10:30 a.m.
Sun Ray Branch Library, 2105 Wilson Avenue
Poetry Storytime
Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m.
Arlington Hills Branch Library, 1105 Greenbrier Street
“It Could Be Verse!” A selection from some of the best and greatest rhymed poems of the English language, dramatically recited by character actor, Jake Esau.
Sunday, April 5, 2:30 p.m.
St. Anthony Park Branch Library, 2245 Como Avenue
Howard Arthur Osborn, local poet, reads from his recently published anthology, Poems for the Ears.
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
University of St. Thomas, JRC 126
John Roach Center Auditorium
(near the corner of Summit & Cleveland)
O’Shaughnessy Award-winning Irish poet, Mary O’Malley, reads from her work. Presented by the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies and co-sponsored by The Friends.
Multiple award winner Mary O'Malley was born in Connemara and educated at University College, Galway. Her poems have been translated into several languages. She travels and lectures widely in Europe and the U.S. She lives in the Moycullen Gaeltacht, Co. Galway.
Tuesday, April 28, 7 p.m.
St. Anthony Park Branch Library, 2245 Como Avenue
Listen to the work of Saint Paul poets, with readings from Naomi Cohn, Jim Heynen, Leslie Adrienne Miller, John Minczeski and Mary Jo Thompson.
Lectures/Discussions
Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m.
Central Library, 90 West Fourth Street
Join Saint Paul Poet Laureate Carol Connolly for the program “Excavating Your Inner Poet.”
Thursday, March 26, 7 p.m.
Hamline Midway Branch Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue
Professor Walt Blue presents a program on the poetry of Paul Verlaine.
Saturday, March 28, 2 p.m.
St. Anthony Park Branch Library, 2245 Como Avenue
Professor Walt Blue presents a program on the poetry of Charles Baudelaire.
Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m.
Hamline Midway Branch Library, 1558 West Minnehaha Avenue
"Writers in Conversation" with O’Shaughnessy Award-winning, Irish poet, Mary O’Malley, and local writer, Margaret Hasse. Co-sponsored by the University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies.
Wednesday, April 29, 7 p.m.
Riverview Branch Library, 1 East George Street
Hamline University professor Andrea Bell presents a program on the poetry of Pablo Neruda.
Workshops
Mondays, March 16 – April 6, 7 p.m.
Merriam Park Branch Library, 1831 Marshall Avenue
John Minczeski leads a four-week poetry writing workshop. Registration limited to 15 people.
Call The Friends at 651-222-3242 to sign up.
Saturday, March 21, 11:30 a.m.
Dayton’s Bluff Branch Library, 645 East Seventh Street
Poet John Minczeski leads a family haiku program – create poetry with your kids!
Wednesdays, April 8 – 29, 7 p.m.
Rice Street Branch Library, 1011 Rice Street
John Minczeski leads a four-week poetry writing workshop for teens. Register at Rice Street—space is limited.
Saturday, April 18, 2 p.m.
Highland Park Branch Library, 1974 Ford Parkway
Poet John Minczeski leads a family haiku program – create poetry with your kids!
Find out more about these and other annual events:
Central
Library Noon Book Chats
Fireside
Reading Series
Untold
Stories: Labor History
Women's
Human Rights Film Series
Is There a Doctor in the Book?
For more detailed information on upcoming events at the Saint Paul Public Library, check out our program calendar, Events & Classes, jointly produced by The Friends and the Library. Events & Classes includes articles on upcoming programs and activities, highlights new services, and provides a complete monthly calendar of free programs for children and adults sponsored by the Library and The Friends. Copies of Events & Classes are available free at all Saint Paul Public Library branches, and are mailed to all Friends members. For a complimentary copy, please send a note with your address to friends@thefriends.org.