We are proud to partner with Poets & Writers, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers, to present poetry and writing workshops on the Rural Libraries Tour. In 2020, 14 Rural Libraries Tour writing workshops will be held in rural locations throughout California. The participating libraries, dates, times, coordinators, and writers are listed below under 2020 Participating Libraries.
Poets & Writers provides the experienced writers who host the workshops free of charge to the public. These two-hour writing workshops can focus on writing fiction, poetry, and/or memoir. Each writer brings their own experience and expertise to the workshop in a unique and engaging way.
Each participating library will receive from California Center for the Book and Poets & Writers:
- 16 copies of the visiting writer’s recent work or another selected title, to give to the public or add to the collection (see toolkit for more info)
- 2 copies of An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate of the United States (See the NEA Big Read resources for An American Sunrise).
- 2 copies of American Journal: Fifty Poems for Our Time by Tracy K Smith, previous Poet Laureate of the United States, and convener of American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities
- $500 fee paid directly to the writer ($300 from California Center for the Book, $200 from Poets & Writers)
Participating libraries agree to:
- Attend the Orientation Zoom meeting (see below)
- Collaborate with at least one community partner (see toolkit for ideas)
- Ensure community surveys, program data, and final reporting are completed
- Actively share best practices with fellow librarians and program staff
2020 Rural Libraries Tour Timeline
- August 2, 2019 – Applications Open – Use this planning doc
- August 30, 2019 – Applications Due
- September 6, 2019 – Program notifications made
- October 2, 2019, 10AM -11AM – Orientation Zoom meeting (required)
- November 15, 2019 – Final Date/Time/Partner Info Due
- January 2020 – Summer 2020 – Programs take place
- UPDATE MARCH 2020 DUE TO COVID-19: Programs, Community Surveys and Library Reports – Due August 31, 2020
Rural Libraries Tour Toolkit
Start with the Rural Libraries Toolkit for writer bios, partnership ideas, resources, templates, and examples of past Rural Libraries Tour writing workshops.
2020 Participating Libraries
| Library System | Program Coordinator |
| El Dorado County Library – Georgetown Branch | Sharai Smith |
| Imperial Public Library | Ember Haller |
| Kern County Library – Delano Branch Library | Sherry Wade |
| Mariposa County Library | Karen Dusek |
| Mendocino County Library – Round Valley Branch | Josh Bennett |
| Mono County Library System – Coleville Library | Christopher Platt |
| Monterey County Free Libraries – Soledad Library | Sarah Hoeffel |
| Nevada County Community Library | Megan Lloyd |
| Riverside County Library System – Coachella Library | Veronica Evans |
| San Diego County Library – Alpine Branch | Jenne Bergstrom |
| Watsonville Public Library | Dolores Wiemers |
| Shasta Public Libraries – Redding Library | Brad Shackleford |
| Solano County Library – Rio Vista Library | Kevin Tolley |
| Tulare County Library System – Exeter Branch Library | Veronica Casanova |
IMLS and Statewide Aligned Program Goals & Outcomes
Outcome 2b: Californians discover and participate in learning opportunities at the library
#RuralLibrariesTour