Tag Archives: Library of Congress

March 30, 2022 · 12:11 AM

April 2022 Literary Calendar

Events in the month of April for writers and readers

D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) Month

National Poetry Month

School Library Month

1 – Reading is Funny Day
2 – International Children’s Book Day
2 – National Children’s Picture Book Day
2 – Hans Christian Anderson’s birthday
3-9 – National Library Week
4 – National School Librarian Day
4 – Maya Angelou’s birthday
5 – National Library Worker’s Day
6 – National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day)
7 – Take Action for Libraries Day
9 – National Unicorn Day
12 – Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day
12 – Beverly Cleary’s birthday
13 – Scrabble Day
14 – Celebrate Teen Literature Day
15 – Rubber Eraser Day
15 – World Art Day
16 – National Librarian Day
17 – International Haiku Poetry Day
18 – Newspaper Columnists Day
23 – William Shakespeare’s birthday
23 – World Book and Copyright Day
23 – World Book Night
24 – U.S. Congress approved the Library of Congress
27 – National Tell A Story Day
28 – Harper Lee’s birthday
28 – Great Poetry Reading Day
30 – Independent Bookstore Day

Trethewey Selected Poet Laureate

Natasha Trethewey has reacted humbly to her selection as the 19^th Poet Laureate for the U.S. Library of Congress, even though she’s unintentionally broken the mold. At 46, she’s the youngest U.S. Poet Laureate and, as a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, she’s only the second one from the South. Poetry often has been considered the ugly stepchild of the literary world; no one wants to deal with it unless it’s absolutely necessary. But, Trethewey approaches the craft “without preaching,” said James Billington, the Librarian of Congress.

Trethewey has attained some significant accomplishments, notably receiving the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for her collection “Native Guard.” She is the author of two prior poetry collections, “Domestic Work,” (2000) and “Bellocq’s Ophelia” (2002), and the 2010 nonfiction book, “Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” Another collection of poetry, “Thrall,” is set to be published later this year.

“I’m still a little in disbelief,” Trethewey told the New York Times this week, before her selection had been publicly announced.

Trethewey discovered her poetic muse after a brutal personal tragedy. While still a college alpahmore, her stepfather killed her mother. Trethewey started writing poems “as a response to that great loss.”

Trethewey, who is currently Mississippi’s poet laureate, will serve the term as U.S. poet laureate concurrently. She has elected to live and work in Washington from January through May of 2013, becoming the first U.S. poet laureate to choose to work in the Poets Room at the Library of Congress during her term.

Posters for Acrobat Shows, 1892 – 1903

The circus has always been a popular amusement distraction. Its various forms have entertained generations of people for decades. In Europe and North America, the modern circus took shape towards the end of the 19^th century. Railroad expansions and later developments of motor vehicles allowed circus troops to travel long distances and delight huge crowds. Circuses have had to reinvent themselves in recent years with the advent of the Internet and concerns about animal abuses. But, in their prime, posters such as these, courtesy of the Performing Arts Poster Collection, Library of Congress, attracted the masses.