Poem in Your Pocket Day was created as part of the celebration of National Poetry Month in April and JMRL has been participating for over 10 years. Poem in Your Pocket Day will be celebrated on Thursday, April 25 and all branches of JMRL will be giving out poem scrolls. Besides passing out poems at the libraries, JMRL staffers will also be handing out poems at various locations throughout the community, including on the Downtown Mall and on the lawn.

JMRL will also be holding Poetry on the Steps at 7pm at the Central Library on Thursday, April 25. This is an open mic event available for anyone to come by and read an original poem, read their favorite poem, or just sit back and listen. Refreshments will be served and the winners of the library’s Adult Poetry Contest will be announced. Both events are sponsored by the Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, with WriterHouse serving as a co-sponsor of the Adult Poetry Contest. This year’s finalist judge is Virginia’s Poet Laureate Henry Hart.