Putnam Library Friends Offering Free Evening With Poet Laureate

The Putnam County Library Friends are hosting a free online talk with Kentucky Poet-Laureate Crystal Wilkinson.

Vice President Rachel Steidl said on Friday, anyone has a chance to participate at 6:00 PM. Steidl said that Wilkinson offers timely stories, sometimes focusing on women of color and their experience in the south.

“She will start by talking about her book Birds of Opulence, that’s the book we decided to have as the focus for her talk this year,” Steidl said. “It’s an award winning book and we’re going to save a little time for a Q&A as well.”

Steidl said the group usually offers a dinner where tickets are sold, books are signed but was deemed unsafe during the pandemic. However, she said this free opportunity online can still serve to connect more people to the library.

“They provide awareness of our organization,” Steidl said. “That leads us to volunteers, increased membership and then ultimately funds based off other events and those increased memberships. So those funds are things that we can pass through to the Putnam County Library System for different projects.”

Steidl said partnering to accomplish library goals is a big part of their work. She said the friends group works to cover costs on projects that government funding cannot.

“Currently, they are looking to get some new furniture for their Tennessee Room,” Steidl said. “The Tennessee Room in the library is, as the name would suggest, is completely focused around the state of Tennessee. But even more specifically, Putnam County and Upper Cumberland region. There’s a lot of genealogy information available in there.”

Steidl said there will still be a reception for sponsors, also serving as a watch party. She said that anyone interested or finds an interest in helping the Putnam County Library and its branches can apply in-person or online at the library website.