The state of North Carolina has a proud heritage of Poets Laureate, including two poets closely associated with UNC Greensboro, Fred Chappell and Kathryn Stripling Byer. So it is with special pleasure that the University Libraries and the Friends of the UNCG Libraries welcome Joseph Bathanti, who was named the new Poet Laureate on August 30, 2012. He will appear at the Hodges Reading Room in Jackson Library at 4 p.m. on March 20. Admission is free. “Joseph Bathanti is an award-winning poet and novelist with a robust commitment to social causes. He first came to North Carolina to work in the VISTA program and has taught writing workshops in prisons for 35 years,” Governor Bev Perdue said in announcing the selection last fall. “As North Carolina’s new Poet Laureate he plans to work with veterans to share their stories through poetry — a valuable and generous project.” That project dovetails nicely with the Betty Carter Women Veterans Historical Project in the University Librari
The Friends of the UNCG Libraries are advocates and supporters of the Libraries. Our Friends make a real difference in our ability to serve the campus and the local community.