The Itinerant Poetry Library

Since May 2006, The Itinerant Poetry Librarian has been travelling the world with a library of ‘Lost & Forgotten’ poetry, installing the library & librarian and archiving the sounds, poems and poetry of the cities, peoples and countries she meets. Welcome to the project's blog . . . Our Itinerant Poetry Librarian lives wherever her library is - come join the cause!

FAQs: • Yes we carry our entire life and the library with us as we go • Yes, it is quite heavy • No, we're not mad. As Charles Simic said, 'But what if poets are not crazy?' That's the spirit boyo!

We exist to: remind people of the importance of free public libraries...subvert mainstream channels of distribution...remind people that access to knowledge should be free and not dependent upon economic wealth hierarchies... show people that poetry/art can provide answers to questions we ask of life...experiment in existing outside of 'the market' – thereby, instead, investing in social capital, social innovation and community.

We aim to make life taste better. Word.

Where have we been . . . ?

(2006) Amsterdam, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Munich, Paris, Barcelona, London, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Norwich, York, Antwerp, (2007-2008) San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Leipzig, (2009) Ulm, Chemnitz, Rotterdam, Huntingdon, Callander, (2010) Cork, St. Andrews . . . Where'd you like us to go? Can you help? Get in touch!

What We Are Up To Right Now . . .

Archive

Tuesday, 27 March 2007

Marsh Membership Drive (cont.)

The Marsh was . . .


You came and saw us . . .


You joined up . . .


. . . but not quite in enough numbers to overtake our current reigning champs Norwich and Budapest yet.

No fear! We're out and about ALL this week. So, not only can you catch up with us in our usual Marsh spot (every Friday, 7 - 10pm in the Marsh Theatre cafe at 1062 Valencia Street, near 22nd street in the Mission) but also this week come on down to . . .

The Babble On reading series at DogEared Books on Thursday, March 29th. Featured readers for this event are: Daniel Handler aka Lemony Snicket, Alvin Orloff, Chantal Okeeffe, and Adam Balbo.

Our Itinerant Poetry Librarian and library will be installed from 7pm onwards for your every poetry object borrowing need.

It's all at: Dog Eared Books, 900 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110. Call 'em: (415) 282-1901, fax 'em: (415) 282-0213, they be open 'em: M-Sa: 10am-10pm; Su: 10am-8pm. And here's a map.

San Francisco membership current total = 33 members
Current Top-of-the-Pops-Library-Chart-Winners = Budapest & Norwich (joint first) = 34 members

Oh my god it's so close. Our Librarian is practically falling off her chair with an-tic-i-pation. The next SF library member to sign up should make sure there's a suitable distance between her/himself and the librarian in situ in case a poetry object landslide occurs. You've been warned.

In the meantime, in our ongoing 'what's been left on the street outside the librarian's house this week?' series:



Love it!

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