City of York Council's libraries are hosting a series of fun, themed events to celebrate National Poetry Day and Children’s Book Week.

This year's National Poetry Day takes place on 4 October and the theme is 'dreams'. On the day, York Central Library will host a poetry and creative writing workshop with local writer Carole Bromley. This will be held in the Marriott Room between 3.30pm and 5.15pm, and anyone who would like to attend is asked to contact Alison Morgan by emailing alison.morgan@york.gov.uk or telephoning 01904 552814.

In the evening between 7pm and 9pm, Read Write York will host an 'open mic' poetry event upstairs at York Central Library.  Anyone who would like to read their work is asked to email miles.salter@york.gov.uk

Among the poets who have already confirmed their attendance are Antony Dunn, Oz Hardwick, Pauline Kirk, Mairi McCormick, Dave Gough, Lesley Rowe, Helen Burke, John Gillam and Rose Drew. Members of the public are welcome to attend and the event is free of charge.

To celebrate Children’s Book Week, which runs from 1 to 7 October, the council's libraries will be distributing A5 flyers offering tips on writing and accessing poetry. A copy will be inserted inside each children’s book issued during the week.

In addition to this, communal acrostic poems based on the word 'dreams' will be available for children to contribute individual lines, or whole poems if they prefer. These can then be taken home with them or handed to staff for inclusion on the website 'Stories from the web'.