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 7 August 2007

Where's the Library in Seattle?

By the power of rideshares (thanks Amy!), the power of couchsurfing.com (thanks Marta!) and the power invoked by Librarians Upon High who enable us to function (er, thanks Librarian Upon High Wherever Ye Might Be Currently ELevated!) the Library & Itinerant Poetry Librarian have made it to Seattle and we're Good To Go with the Library Programme. So.

Where's the Library at?

First up, the wonderful . . .



Richard Hugo House, located at 1634 11th Ave, Seattle.

We'll be installing our Library & Librarian on: Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Tuesday 14th & Thursday 16th Aug 2007 from 11am - 6pm.


Here's a map to get you to us.

Richard Hugo House is "...a 16,206-square-foot Victorian house that dates to 1902. Before the organization bought it in August 1997, the house was the New City Theater, and before that the Bonney-Watson mortuary and funeral home. Originally, it was an apartment house. In addition to administrative offices, the House includes:

* an 92-seat theater (that can be reconfigured to hold 148);
* a café with a cabaret stage;
* a Member Library with computers;
* the 'Zine Archive and Publishing Project (facilities for independent magazine publishers);
* two multi-purpose rooms;
* a conference room;
* an art gallery."

How cool is that? Their Zine Library is probably the most extensive in the entire United States of America, holding over 17, 000 titles . . . somehow we don't think our Librarian will run outta reading material these next two weeks! YIPPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Where's the Library in Seattle 2.0?

We are also installing our Library & Librarian in . . .



The Travel Loft of the Elliott Bay Book Company, which is located at 101 South Main Street, Seattle, Washington 98104, U S of A indeedy.

We'll be installing our Library & Librarian on: Wednesday 15th & Friday 17th August 2007 from 10am - 7pm.


Here's a map to get you to us.

We've also got some installations planned for the library outside the back of Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers,



...who are niftily located just a few doors down from Elliott Bay Books, and have a back entrance they're more than happy for our Librarian to gather in, apparently! It takes a brave man or woman indeed . . . hee hee . . . so look out for us by walking through their awesome antiquarian bookshop or approach us from behind via Occidental Square! We'll post up days and times ASAP.

In the meantime, while we're on Johan-the-wunderkid- from-vaguely-nr-Hamburg's computer, we'd also like to officially thank our awesome, excellent, extraordinary, awe-inspiring, and finally, outstandingly wonderful Portland hosts: Ariana & Jeffrey who made our Portland and month of July visit so darn frickin' lickin' goooooooood. Thanks from a well-fed Librarian folks!

We also know we have Library Statistics to fill you in on, final Portland membership numbers, as well all our exciting itinerary stops and starts, which we will do once we get better computer access.

Alrighty! To the Library and Beyond Boys & Girls! Let's go!

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