Susan Hawkinson - Poet and Author of Tina Christina Sestina
The intended outcome of the arts program is to allow patrons to learn the skills of poetic expression: form, imagery, word choice. The program will broaden patron awareness and will experience the therapeutic, stress-relieving benefit of writing poetry.
A survey was distributed. Participants liked having the opportunity to create a poem when they have not considered themselves to be a poet and liked being challenged to use their imagination for illustrations and inspiration in the poetry writing process. Teachers noted the importance of providing opportunities for students to interact with a writer and about learning the vocabulary associated with poetry and they learned other ways to encourage students to write and think about poetry. While some students were not excited about the poetry topic "It was boring and we couldn't use or creativity because there were certain rules", other students wrote: "Very interesting and cool!", "Loved it, I want to be a writer!" and "That you don't need to be the same as everybody else."
The following public libraries provided space, staff, and additional promotion for the programs: Babbitt (held at the Northeast Regional School), Cook, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, International Falls (2 programs at the West End Elementary School), Silver Bay (2 programs at the William Kelley Elementary school), and Two Harbors libraries and approximately 12 regional newspapers.