The annual National Poetry Day celebration promotes the richness, variety and sheer fun of poetry of all kinds, from song lyrics and nursery rhymes to works by poets laureate.

National Poetry Day takes place on Thursday 8 October 2009.
This year's theme is Heroes and Heroines.

What happens on National Poetry Day?

SPL events | Across the UK | For teachers | Free postcards | Send an NPD e-card

Heroic Poetic Extravaganza at the Scottish Poetry Library

National Poetry Day at the SPL will be packed full of free poetry events. We've so much to squeeze in, we're still confirming some of the times - please keep checking back for up to date info!

Nothing But the Poem, 12.30-1.30pm
A relaxed reading group, looking at the postcards produced by the SPL for this year's NPD theme of Heroes and Heroines.

Poems Aloud, 2-3pm
A chance for people to discuss the poems that mean the most to them, and listen to SPL staffers and our Reader in Residence read poems aloud. Tea and biscuits served.

Arts and crafts!/How do you carry yours? 3-5pm
Drop-in workshops for people to create original ways of carrying the poems that matter to them: mix and match between paper crafts with librarian Julie Johnstone; mad alternative crafts with Knitty Kitty; collage making and screen-printing (tbc). Bring your own materials to make a little something - we will provide some materials too.

The Chapel of Poetry
For those who need some quiet time, poems will be played softly throughout the day in our Members' Room.

MP3s
A few MP3 posts spread throughout the library will play a mixture of all sorts of poetry.

Lost For Words
Our own Lizzie MacGregor will be manning the Lost For Words stall - all those with half-remembered poems and unnamed fragments of verse, enquire within upon everything...

Poetry Pub Quiz, 7pm - late
At the wonderful Waverley bar on St Mary's Street - a chance for poetry fans to enter a team and show off their knowledge, with double or nothing rounds, poetic spouses, and audio and picture rounds amongst the fun on offer.

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National Poetry Day across Scotland and the UK

• For details of more National Poetry Day events around Scotland, see our listings of other poetry events.
• For poetry events outside Scotland, visit the National Poetry Day website.
• If you're planning your own National Poetry Day event in Scotland please let us know! Email reception@spl.org.uk

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For teachers

Visit our education section to read this years poems, see ideas about how to use poetry in the classroom, and tips for using this year's National Poetry Day postcards.

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National Poetry Day postcards

• You can collect free poetry postcards from the Scottish Poetry Library.
• Contact us at reception@spl.org.uk if you would like to get your hands on some, or send a stamped SAE for a free set.
• You can also email a poetry postcard.