BookGuide - Lincoln City Libraries - Local Literary Events

Trying to find out about literature and literary-themed events and activities in Lincoln, Nebraska? We suggest that you first take a look at the Lincoln City Libraries' Programs and Events Calendar for information about special literary-themed events scheduled at the libraries for both adults and youth during the next several months. You can also find listings of non-library literary events by clicking here: Other Lincoln Literary Events.

For local book groups, visit BookGuide's Book Talks and Book Discussion Groups page!

>>> Submit your own community Literary Event information! <<<

The selected title for the 2009 One Book - One Lincoln was announced on August 31st, 2009. This year's book is People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks.

Throughout September, October and November 2009, Lincolnites are once again encouraged to read the same book, then join other readers in attending book discussions and special programming events based on the topics and themes of the book. Visit the Official 2009 One Book - One Lincoln site for more information, including ways you can get involved! To see some background about all of 2009's five finalists, visit our 2009 Finalists page, where you can also sign up to be notified by e-mail about all new developments regarding One Book -- One Lincoln. We also encourage you to stop by the One Book -- One Lincoln Blog, where you can leave comments about the book selections and the entire One Book process in response to posted discussion topics.

You can also still visit the resource pages for all past One Book - One Lincoln selections below, and you can also still discuss all those books and events with other readers in our One Book One Lincoln Blog! Also, check out the all-new One Book One Lincoln Facebook page, for yet another way to share your thoughts about this annual literary tradition.

During both the Spring and Fall, the Nebraska Literary Heritage Assocation sponsors a free monthly "brown bag" lecture series, featuring readings and talks by Nebraska authors. The programs are held in the 4th floor auditorium of the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, at 14th and "N" Sts. Unless otherwise specified, programs begin at 12:10 p.m. and end before 1:00 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch...coffee is provided by The Mill in Lincoln.

The Fall/Winter 2009 sessions have been announced!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 -- Christine Harris -- The Gypsy in My Soul
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 -- Barbara Carlson and writers from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutue (OLLI) -- Let's Write!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 -- Vicki Wood -- Youth Services Coordinator -- Good Books to Give as Gifts

Visit the Lincoln City Libraries' Lunch at the Library page for more information.

During both the Spring and Fall, the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors sponsors a free monthly Sunday afternoon lecture series, featuring readings by Nebraska authors. The programs are held in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors, on the 3rd floor of the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, at 14th and "N" Sts. Ames readings are held on Sunday afternoons, starting at 2:00 p.m.

September 20, 2009 -- Born and raised in Los Angeles, Amelia Maria de la Luz Montes has been a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the past ten years. She writes fiction, critical literary theory, non-fiction, and criticism. Most recently, she edited a nineteenth-century text, Who Would Have Thought It? by Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton as well as written the introduction, notes and translated letters.
October 18, 2009 -- Amil Quayle hails from Idaho, near the Snake River. He earned a degree in sociology from the University of Utah, ranched in Nebraska for seven years and then received an M.A. and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Nebraska. He has taught English at Utah State University and at Idaho State University. Grand Canyon and Other Selected Poems, which includes a photo of river rafting on the cover, is his latest work.
November 15, 2009 -- A freelance writer and fifth-generation Nebraskan who lives in Omaha, Jeff Barnes has been a newspaper reporter and editor, the past chairman of the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission, and the former marketing director of the Durham Western Heritage Museum. He has researched, photographed, and written his first book, a guide entitled Forts of the Northern Plains, published by Stackpole Books.

Visit the Lincoln City Libraries' John H. Ames Reading Series page for more information.

The events listed below are literature-related activities that take place on a regular schedule, as opposed to one-shot author appearances. If you've got an upcoming or regularly-scheduled literary event in the Lincoln, Nebraska community, that's open to the general public, free-of-charge, and you'd like to be included in our list of local Literary Events on this page, please visit our Literary Events submissions page and fill out a brief form giving us some information about your group.

[ For listings of book discussion groups throughout the Lincoln community, visit our Book Groups page ]

Following the success of the first five years of One Book One Nebraska, featuring Willa Cather's My Antonia, Omaha mystery novelist Alex Kava's One False Move, Mari Sandoz' classic history text Crazy Horse, and Nebraska State Poet William Kloefkorn's autobiography Restoring the Burnt Child, the Nebraska Library Commission, the Nebraska Center for the Book, the Nebraska Library Association, the Nebraska Regional Library Systems and other organizations will be sponsoring yet another year of One Book One Nebraska in 2009!

The 2009 selected title is Bess Streeter Aldrich's classic, A Lantern in Her Hand. You can find more information about the 2005-2009 events at the official One Book One Nebraska Web site.

Acoustic Open Mic for Musicians and Poets

Where: Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St.)
When: Every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

For information about events at Meadowlark Coffee, check out their MySpace page at: Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso.

The Clean Part Reading Series

Where: Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery (12th and "R" St.)
When: Occasional Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.

This series showcases innovative poets from across the country. For more information, and a schedule of upcoming dates, check out: The Sheldon Memorial Art Galley schedule of upcoming events.

Crescent Moon Reading Series

Where: Crescent Moon Coffee (816 "P" St.)
When: Alternating Mondays at 7:00 p.m.

Mondays at 7:00 pm is the Crescent Moon Readings Series followed by an open mic. We feature a writer for the first hour of the evening and then offer the microphone to anyone who has written poetry, stories, or songs and wished to have the opportunity to share them. The Crescent Moon Reading and Music Room is indoors across the courtyard from Crescent Moon Coffee.. For more information, check out their website at: Crescent Moon Readings.

no name poetry reading series

Where: Sur Tango Bar et Cafe (12th and "P" St.)
When: Alternating Fridays at 4:00 p.m. (The Winter/Spring season starts Jan 12th)

The no name reading series is run by the graduate students in the english department of the university of nebraska-lincoln. it aims to support the creative talent that comes out of the department by promoting that talent throughout the greater lincoln community. For more information, check out their website at: no name poetry reading series.

Lincoln Scrabble® Club

Where: Eiseley Branch Library (15th and Superior St.)
When: The third Wednesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Scrabble® Club is a group of casual to competitive Scrabble® players from the Lincoln, Nebraska area. All ages and all skills levels are welcome. We play by the game rules of the National Scrabble® Association. For more information, you can call Judy at 483-6233 or email at trudy2(at)windstream.net.

Star City Slam

Where: Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St.)
When: Second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Offering featured performers and a cash prize for first place, it's a poetry slam where the winner can never use the same winning poems again to get that top prize, in this winner takes all rhetoric throw down. For information about events at Meadowlark Coffee, check out their MySpace page at: Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso.

Tuesdays with Writers at The Mill -- College View

Where: The Mill -- College View (4736 Prescott St)
When: First Tuesday of each month

Readings by featured authors, plus communal book/writing discussions.