April is annual Poetry Month, but in Westchester the appreciation of poetry began this month at seven public libraries.

The events are funded by the Westchester Library System (WLS) and Westchester County Board of Legislators, and presented by Poets House (a 50,000-volume library and literary center based in Manhattan).

“Poetry Westchester!� will offer creative, inspiring programs for adults and teens — poetry lovers and those who want to get a taste of the genre. It is modeled after the Poets House initiative, intended to create a poetry “mindset� so that people can enhance their current appreciation of poetry and/or get introduced to new works and writers.

Hettie Jones, noted poet ( Doing 70, Hanging Loose Press, 2007), and memoir writer of the Beat era, ( How I Became Hettie Jones, Grove Press, 1996), will be the “Poet in Residence� in Mount Pleasant, where she’ll lead workshops and give a talk on “The Beat Poets.� Joining her will be award-winning poets Edward Hirsch, speaking about How to Read a Poem and Fall in Love With Poetry and reading his poetry and Tom Sleigh, author of Space Walk (Houghton Mifflin, 2007).

The Mount Pleasant Library will be the “county seat� of this initiative, hosting a slew of programs from workshops and readings to poetry talk. Libraries in Irvington, Hastings, Katonah, Larchmont and White Plains will also host poetry workshops for either teens or adults. Pelham will present workshops for both age groups.

Bringing this program to to Westchester was the idea of Siobhan A. Reardon, Director of the Westchester Library System. Having seen her own son flourish when having the opportunity to write poetry, and having seen the success of the program in other library systems she said she wanted to give everyone the opportunity to experience the magic of poetry.

Here’s the Westchester schedule:

Poetry Westchester!
Schedule for Winter/Spring 2008

•Mount Pleasant Public Library | 350 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, | (914) 769-0548

Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Hettie Jones
Feb. 4, 11, 25, March 3 at 4:30 pm (already underway)

March 17 at 7:00 pm: Publication Party and Reading

Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Hettie Jones
Please call (914) 769-0548 to register
Feb. 11, 25, March 3 at 7 pm
March 24 at 7:00 pm: Group Reading

Poetry Reading by Edward Hirsch
March 30 at 2:00 pm

The Beat Poets: A talk by Hettie Jones
April 6 at 2:00 pm

Poetry Reading by Tom Sleigh
May 18 at 2:00 pm

•Pelham | 530 Colonial Ave. | (914) 738-1234

Teen Writing Workshop with Erica Fabri
Feb. 25, March 3, 10, 17 at 7 pm
April 14 at 7 pm: Publication Party and Reading

Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Joanna Fuhrman
Please call (914) 738-1234 to register
March 13, 20, 27 at 7:15 pm
April 17 at 7:15 pm: Group Reading

•Larchmont | 121 Larchmont Avenue Larchmont | (914) 834-2281

Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Steve Sher
Please call (914) 834-2281 to register
Feb. 26, March 4, March 11 at 10:30 am
April 1 at 10:30 am: Group Reading

•Hastings-on-Hudson | 7 Maple Ave. | (914) 478-3307

Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Estha Weiner
Please call (914) 478-3307 to register
March 1, 8, 22 at 2:30 pm
April 12 at 2:30 pm: Group Reading

•Katonah | 26 Bedford Road | (914) 232-3508

Adult Poetry Writing Workshop with Caitlin McDonnell
Please call (914) 232-3508 to register
March 3, 10, 17 at 7:30 pm
April 7 at 7:30 pm: Group Reading

White Plains | 100 Martine Ave. | (914) 422-1400

Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Rachel Simon
March 4, 11, 18, April 1 at 4:30 pm
April 15 at 4:30 pm: Publication Party and Reading

•Irvington | 12 South Astor St. | (914) 591-7840

Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Joanna Fuhrman
March 25, April 1, 8, 15 at 7:00 pm
May 6 at 7:00 pm: Publication Party and Reading

Scarsdale | 54 Olmsted Road | (914) 722-1300

Teen Poetry Writing Workshop with Rachel Simon
March 26, April 2, 9, 16 at 3:30 pm
May 7 at 3:30 pm: Publication Party and Reading