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National Library Week to include creative writing workshop, Food for Fines

NLW 2012The arrival of April is special to many people for different reasons —for some it signifies spring time, while for others it marks the beginning of baseball season.
April is also a big month for libraries. National Library Week (April 8-14) and National Poetry Month are both recognized during that month. Whether you are a job seeker looking for resources to land a new job, a parent looking for free activities for children or a student searching for your next favorite book, you belong at your library.
Today’s libraries help level the playing field by making both print and digital information affordable, available and accessible to all people. Libraries provide cultural heritage and genealogical collections, materials in print and electronic formats, job seeking resources, English as a second language and citizenship classes and many other creative and resourceful programs.

Libraries have historically served as our nation’s great equalizers of knowledge. The strength of libraries has always been the diversity of their collections and commitment to serving all people. This National Library Week, join our nation’s libraries and librarians by celebrating the place where we all belong.
“Today's libraries provide a wide range of opportunities for people with   diverse  needs  and  interests,” Atlantic City Free Public Library Director Maureen Frank said. “That means providing their communities with  tailor made  collections and services for people of diverse backgrounds, language abilities and technological skills.”
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.
The Atlantic City Free Public Library will celebrate National Library and National Poetry Month.
The library will continue a tradition by holding a “Food for Fines” food drive during National Library Week. People can make a donation of non-perishable food items in lieu of paying a fine on overdue materials  April 9-14 at both its Main Library  and Atlantic City Library Express locations. The food will be donated to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey — Southern Branch. For each non-perishable item donated, the accrued fines for one overdue item will be waived.
The library has also scheduled some special programs in recognition of National Library Week and National Poetry Month:

Teen and Tween Poetry Contest
Entries accepted March 5-April 1.
April is National Poetry Month! Students ages 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17 are invited to submit up to three poems in any style and on any subject. Winners will be announced on April 16, and winning poems will be on display in the Teen Lounge through the month of April. Submit your poems at the Youth Services Desk or email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Include your name, age and phone number with your submissions. Prizes will be awarded for first place and honorable mentions in each age category.

Write Your Own Memoir: Creative Writing Series
Mondays at 6 p.m.
April 2, 9, 23, 30
In this four-part series, which will be held in celebration of National Library Week and Poetry Month, participants will learn tips and skills to write creatively, with an emphasis on poetry and the memoir. Their values, beliefs, and life lessons learned that they would like to share will be weaved into one beautiful piece. Instructor Eva Feeley is a writer and teacher of all types of creative writing. Her memoir-writing classes have become very popular in Cape May and surrounding counties over the past few years. She shares her love of writing and poetry with members of the region’s libraries, nursing home and hospices.

Intro to Poetry and the Spoken Word
Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
This workshop is an introduction to the process of both writing and performing. Through a series of theater games, improvisational exercises and writing prompts, students will develop short written pieces which they will then work on staging and presenting as performance pieces. Register by calling (609) 345-2269, ext. 3050. Ages 10-17.