The Tolland Public Library Foundation’s fifth annual poetry slam March 10 was a rousing success with 13 poets competing from Tolland, Mansfield and Willington.

The 2016 poetry slam winners were, left to right, third place, Hannah Montgomery of Mansfield; second place, Natalie Wyse of Tolland, and first place, Aliza Pelto of Mansfield.

The poets are, left to right, back row, Kate Barry of E.O. Smith High School and Mansfield; Norlinda Steward of E.O. Smith and Mansfield; Kaitie Dilan of Tolland High School; Sophia Blush of E.O.Smith and Mansfield; Hannah Montgomery of E.O. Smith and Mansfield; Mary Singer of Tolland and Abigail Lateer of Tolland. Front row, left to right, Kylee White-Ramirez of Tolland and the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy; Kacey Dutton of Tolland High; Natalie Wyse of Tolland High; Aliza Pelto of E.O. Smith and Mansfield; Rachel Horowitz-Benoit of E.O. Smith and Willington; Sonika Kohli of Tolland.

Young adult author Dawn Metcalf

Dawn Metcalf, a Connecticut author of young adult novels, will present a talk on “Getting Published: A Helpful Guide to Navigating Traditional Book Publishing” on Tuesday, March 22 as part of the Tolland Public Library Foundation’s Eaton-Dimock-King Authors Series.

The talk for teens and adults who are interested in learning how to get their book published will be held at 7 p.m. in Conference Room A of Tolland Town Hall at 21 Tolland Green.

Metcalf is the author of “Luminous,” a young adult paranormal fantasy, and “Indelible,” “Invisible,” and “Insidious,” books in her trilogy about a fantasy world known as “The Twixt.” She promises to offer wisdom, tips and tricks to help writers and would-be authors.

The talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, call the Tolland Public Library at 860-871-3620 or visit www.tolland.org/library and click on the Online Library Events Calendar.

Since 2010, the author series, funded by the Phoebe Dimock King and Elizabeth C. King Eaton Endowment, has brought writers Caragh O’Brien, Dan Barry, Denis Horgan, Susan Campbell, Cindy Rodriguez, Susan Schoenberger, Jeff Goldberg, Lucy Anne Hurston, Jane Haddam, Ken Davis and P.W. Catanese to town.

The Tolland Public Library and the Tolland Public Library Foundation are pleased to invite middle and high school students aged 12 to 18 to take part in the fifth annual Poetry Slam @the Tolland Public Library on Thursday, March 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Conference Room A of the Tolland Town Hall.
To enter, fill out the entry form and photo release below and return them to the public library, any Tolland High School English teacher or the high school library no later than Monday, March 7. The event will be held as long as we have at least five entrants. Preference for participation will be given to Tolland residents, but students from other towns may enter if space permits.
By Monday, March 7, please email copies of three original poems to Foundation Secretary Kate Farrish at [email protected] so they can be shared with the judges. Each poem should take one to three minutes to perform.
Here are the rules, adapted from those of the National Poetry Slam:

• Each poem must be an original composition of the performer.
• Poets have three minutes to perform each poem, with a 10-second grace period. One
  point will be deducted from the score of poets who go beyond the grace period. One point will be deducted from the score of poets who speak for less than one minute.
• No props, costumes or musical instruments are allowed.
• No profanity or vulgarity are allowed.
• A panel of judges, made up of a THS student, educators, librarians and Foundation board members, will give each poem a score of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest level. The highest and lowest scores will be dropped.
• Poets with the three highest scores will win prizes after one or two rounds. In the case of a tie, those poets may be asked to perform another poem.
• Poetry slams were born in Chicago in 1986 to celebrate the competitive art of performance poetry. In that spirit, judges will give an equal weight to the writing of the poetry and the poet’s performance.
• Slams are designed to allow the audience to react vocally to the hosts, performers and judges’ scoring, but the Foundation asks that audience members be respectful.

We hope you are as excited about this event as we are. Please invite any relatives or friends you want to come cheer you on. They should sign up by calling the library at 860-871-3620.
Any questions can be directed to Kate Farrish at 860-871-8089 or at [email protected].

Tolland Public Library Foundation Inc.

Fifth annual Poetry Slam@the Tolland Public Library

Entry Form

Name: ____________________________________________________

Best phone number to reach you: ______________________________

Email: ________________________

Grade and school where you are enrolled: ________________________

Age as of March 7, 2016 __________

Please return this entry form to the public library, any Tolland High English teacher or the high school library no later than Monday, March 7.

Please prepare three poems that will each take one to three minutes to perform. Poets will perform two poems, but we ask you to have a third poem ready in case we need to break a tie. The poems should be emailed to Foundation Secretary Kate Farrish at [email protected] no later than Monday, March 7.

Please have your parent or guardian sign the attached photo release if you are under 18 or you can sign it if you are 18, and submit it with this entry form no later than Monday, March 7.

Audience members who want to attend should call the library at 860-871-3620 to register.

Tolland Public Library Foundation Poetry Slam Photo Release

Participant who is 18 or over:

I am 18 or over and give permission to the Tolland Public Library Foundation to use photos of me taking part in its fifth annual poetry slam on March 10, 2016. I understand that the photos may be sent to news outlets for publicity purposes and may be used on the Foundation’s Facebook page and website.

I understand that the photos will only be used to educate the public about library services and that the Foundation or the Tolland Public Library will not knowingly release the material for use in any advertising medium.

Permission given by:

Print name

_______________________________________________

______________________________________________Date: __________________________
Signature

Participant who is under 18:

I give permission to the Tolland Public Library Foundation to use photos of my child taking part in its fifth annual poetry slam on March 10, 2016. I understand that the photos may be sent to news outlets for publicity purposes and may be used on the Foundation’s Facebook page and website.

I understand that the photos will only be used to educate the public about library services and that the Foundation or the Tolland Public Library will not knowingly release the material for use in any advertising medium.

Name of child:

____________________________________________________________________________

Permission given by:

Print name

______________________________________________

____________________________________________Date: ____________________________
Signature/Relationship to child

Young adult author Dawn Metcalf

The author visit by Dawn Metcalf, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, has been postponed. Watch this space for details when it is rescheduled.

In the meantime, you can sign up for mystery writer Karen E. Olson’s talk on Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. in Conference Room A by calling the Tolland Public Library at 860-871-3620 or by visiting http://www.tolland.org/library.

Olson’s book, “Hidden,” is a gripping tale of suspense set on Block Island. Her talk is free, but registration is required.