FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: EJ Dowling, edowling@jmrl.org; or Jennifer MacAdam-Miller, pr@jmrl.org, 434-979-7151 x 6676 

Poets ages 18+ are invited to submit one original, unpublished poem, 30 lines or less, to any JMRL branch location, WriterHouse, or via an online form on the JMRL website, by 5pm on Tuesday, October 25. 

The poetry contest, now in its sixth year, “perfectly encapsulates the shared values JMRL and WriterHouse have of championing the importance of reading and writing and community engagement,” said WriterHouse executive director Sibley Johns. “For hundreds of years, poets have altered the course of history by speaking out about issues that concern their communities, and this year’s theme of transformation echoes that critical legacy of the power of the pen to affect positive change for all of us.” 

“Over the years, the Poetry Contest has gone through changes, including this year—being held in the fall instead of the spring,” said JMRL reference librarian EJ Dowling. “Using transformative change as this year’s theme made perfect sense as the partnership between the library and WriterHouse grows and evolves, so do the changes to our community.” 

JMRL and WriterHouse encourage writers to submit their interpretation of transformative change for this year’s contest. Winners will be contacted directly and a public announcement will be posted on JMRL’s “Grow, Learn, Connect” blog. Prizes are a $200 Visa gift card for the first place winner, and a $100 Visa gift card for the runner-up.

For more information, visit jmrl.org/poetrycontest.