September 4, 2026
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The New Orleans Public Library is accepting new music submissions for Crescent City Sounds, through October 2.
Celebrate National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. With poetry readings from local writers, writing workshops with Poet Laureates past and present, and curated recommendations from our staff, the New Orleans Public Library has everything you need to celebrate.
Wednesday, April 8, 5:30-6:30pm, Latter Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month with readings from local poets published in the New Orleans Public Library’s own anthology, RENEWED.
RENEWED features winning entries from the Library’s annual Summer Fun Writing Contest. Past themes include renewal, adventure, and harmony.
This reading will feature writers from all three volumes.
Saturday, April 11, 11am-2pm, Algiers Regional Library
One Book One New Orleans and former Louisiana Poet Laureate Alison Pelegrin will lead a talk and writing workshop inspired by the collection “You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World,” edited by Ada Limon.
Pelegrin and contributor to “You Are Here,” Khadijah Queen will share their experience bringing this book to incarcerated readers, followed by a public writing workshop that replicates the work being done inside prisons. The first 40 people in attendance will receive a free copy of “You Are Here.”
Refreshments will be provided. This event is free, family-friendly, and all are welcome.
Supported by Arts Midwest and a Big Read Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit arts.gov.
Monday, April 13, 2-3pm, Nora Navra Library
Odes are poems of celebration and close attention, often written to praise something or someone, including everyday objects. In this workshop led by Louisiana Poet Laureate Gina Ferrara, attendees will examine famous odes and write ones of their own. Gina Ferrara is an Associate Professor of English at Delgado Community College. She lives in New Orleans and has five poetry collections.
Her latest, “Amiss,” was published by Dos Madres Press in 2023. Her work has appeared in many journals including Callaloo, The Poetry Ireland Review, Tar River, The Southern Review and was nominated for a Best of the Net and a Pushcart in 2024. Since 2007, she has curated The Poetry Buffet, a monthly reading series in New Orleans.
Funding for this Louisiana Poet Laureate program has been provided by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Virtual Author Talk with Miranda Cowley Heller: Lush Lyricism and Intimate Confessions
Wednesday, April 22, 1-2pm
Award-winning and bestselling author Miranda Cowley Heller will share an intimate journey through the life stages of a woman in her new poetry collection, “What the Deep Water Knows.” Delicate, yet exceedingly raw, these poems will transport you as vividly as any work of fiction.
Heller was raised in New York City and Cape Cod. Her debut novel “The Paper Palace” was a number one New York Times bestseller in the U.S., a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK, and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize. She has worked as a senior vice president and head of drama series at HBO, developing and overseeing such shows as “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Wire,” “Deadwood,” and “Big Love,” among others.
This is her first poetry collection.
Use the button below to register and submit your questions for Heller.
In addition to poetry readings, workshops, and author talks, Library staff have curated a list of recommended titles to help you celebrate National Poetry Month. For personalized recommendations, check out our Find Your Next Read service here.
National Poetry Month 2026
September 1, 2026
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Library cardholders can now reserve free admission to the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum through the Culture Pass Program.
August 25, 2026
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November 2026 elections are around the corner. Get informed with nonpartisan voting resources from the New Orleans Public Library.