By DENISE HERSCHEL
The month of April has been designated as National Poetry Month and as part of the celebration Neptune Library is sponsoring a poetry contest for township residents in grades six through twelve.
The theme of this year’s contest, “Libraries Are a Place of Unlimited Possibilities,” is in conjunction with National Library Week, April 12 – April 18.
“We have held a poetry contest in the past with success. We want students to be creative with their poems and to incorporate this year’s library theme into their poems. Libraries are a place where knowledge is gained,” said Amanda LeMay, reference librarian and contest spokesperson.
The contest ends April 30 and all types of poetry are accepted. Examples include shadow poetry, hymn poems, epic poems and haiku. There will be prizes for first, second and third place winners.
Winners will be announced the first week of May.
According to LeMay “first and second place winners will receive gift cards to Barnes and Noble and movie theater tickets. The third place winner will receive a nice writing journal.”
LeMay added, “My advice for contestants is to be creative and don’t hold back. Also look into what the library has to offer – teen and tween reading clubs and an adult and children’s writing club among others. The library is a place to meet new people with similar interests. We hope people want to get involved and see what we have to offer.”
Those interested in submitting their poetry can do so by stopping by the library circulation desk and placing their poem in the entries box. Submissions can also be done by emailing AmandaL@neptunepubliclibrary.org. For further information about the poetry contest contact Amanda LeMay at 732-775-8241 ext. 303.
