2011 Young Pegasus Poets try their wings!

This weekend San Antonio’s young poets will be recognized at the 85th annual Young Pegasus Poetry Awards ceremony, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, at the Hermann Sons Grand Lodge, 515 S. St. Mary’s. This year more than 2,000 poems were submitted for consideration, with 71 poems by 61 young authors – ranging in age from 6 to 18 – selected for publication in the 2011 Young Pegasus Poetry Anthology. Those lucky enough to attend will hear these creative young writers read their own poems aloud.

Items of interest:

Two new libraries are now open to serve you!

Mission Branch Library, 3134 Roosevelt Avenue 78214 (on the former site of the Mission Drive-in Theatre)
Parman Branch Library in Stone Oak, 20735 Wilderness Oak 78258

Don’t forget it’s almost time for Summer Reading, sponsored again this year by Mayor Julian Castro! For information on the kids’ program, gohere, and to find out what the teens are planning, go here.

We’re starting the Mission Branch Library celebration early!

The new Mission Branch of the San Antonio Public Library will open in 2011, but the celebration is starting a year early! On Saturday, May 1, at Mission San José, 6701 San José Drive, District 3 City Council Member Jennifer Ramos, Scholastic, the San Antonio Public Library Foundation, and the San Antonio Public Library will host a Reading Fiesta. The festivities will kick off at 9:00 a.m. and run to 11:30.

Highlight of the event will be two performances by musician/author/educator José Luís Orozco, one at 9:30 a.m., and one at 10:45 a.m. Local authors Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Roxanna Montes-Bazaldua and Carmen Tafolla will read from their children’s books, and and artist/illustrator Terry Ybáñez has organized family crafts based on the stories. Participants can also visit the Scholastic Literacy Caravan and the Library’s Bookmobile.

As part of the Library’s Be One in a Million Library card campaign, the Reading Fiesta will be an opportunity to sign up for a San Antonio Public Library card.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (210) 225-4728.