On April 25, the Library had the pleasure of hosting the annual Robert Campbell High School Poetry Awards in partnership with the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts.  The event features an award presentation and a poetry reading by teenage poets from all over Monterey County whose poems were submitted to the competition and judged to be among the best.  Over 300 high school poets submitted 450 poems, and 33 were singled out for awards.  The award-winners read their poems to an appreciative, full-house audience comprised of family members, friends, and teachers.  Each poet was presented with a certificate, and either a book awards, or one of the cash prizes sponsored by the Friends of the Monterey Public Library. 

The Library has a special relationship with writers and poets and it is always a great delight to hear new voices of young poets from our own community.  It is also inspiring to witness the courage of these young people as they read words that express emotions and thoughts that are very often deeply personal.  In a world where there are not always trophy cases filled with awards for teenagers who write, it is heartwarming to participate in this annual opportunity to recognize and honor the talents and achievements of our young poets.