Melinda Palacio
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| The Poetry Club |
When I saw the announcement of a poetry club at the Goleta Valley Library, I was happy to check it out since I thought the library was closed for renovations. When I arrived, I realized there was some information missing from the announcement. The Goleta Valley Library is indeed closed for renovations but there was a sign sending people to the express library. Since last July, the library’s collection is in a temporary building at 6500 Hollister Avenue, Suite 105, known as GVL Express. At the Express library you can use one of four computers, check out and return books, buy books from the Friends of the Library, and take advantage of a variety of free bilingual services and resources.
I walked in expecting to be only a little late to the poetry club. However, the friendly staff explained that the poetry club was being held at the Goleta Community Center in the opposite direction I had traveled. The librarian’s encouragement kept me going. She said that the poetry club is worth finding and lots of fun. Most of the library’s social meetings, their mystery book club and film club, are located at the Goleta Community Center. By the time I found The Poetry Club, the doors to the community center were locked. Luckily, someone heard me rattling the door and let me in.
What I found was a welcoming group of diverse people, both poetry enthusiasts and budding poets in a large comfortable room with chairs and comfortable couches. The atmosphere was of friends learning about poetry and commenting on the poems. At least two people shared their own poetry. Library Assistant Tara Patrick brought copies of well known poems to discuss, but was pleased that participants brought their own favorite poems to pass out. “The idea is you don’t have to be a poet,” she said, “but we love for people to read their own work. Poet César R. Verrier enjoys bringing new drafts of his work to the group for feedback. “You can test how it resonates with other people and work on it,” he said.
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| César R. Verrier |
A young poet, Nazani Cassidy, found the Poetry Club on instagram through the library’s @goletavalleylibrary account. She cherishes the monthly meetings and says she would attend more often should the group decide to meet weekly. Nazani works in Old Town and was thrilled to find a poetry group in her community that fits her full time work schedule. The Poetry Club meets the 3rd Sunday of the Month from 2-3:30 pm at the Goleta Community Center, 5679 Hollister Avenue and is a free program offered by the Goleta Valley Library. Nazani appreciates the support and encouragement she receives from the group. “This is a great group of local people who really care about taking the time to listen.
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| Nazani Cassidy |
*an earlier version of this column was published in the Santa Barbara Independent
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