DAYTON-On Tuesday, July 13, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Columbia County Rural Library (CCRL) will host its first-ever "Poetry Slam". "What is a poetry slam?" you ask. Well, poetry began as a part of an oral tradition that included poets sharing and performing aspects of their poems. A slam is a poetry competition where poets perform original works, either in teams or solo, in front of an audience that also serves as judges. "The structure of the traditional slam was started by construction worker and poet Marc Smith in 1986 at a reading series in a Chicago jazz club. The competition quickly spread across the country, finding a notable home in New York City at the Nuyorican Poets Café." ("A Brief Guide to Slam Poetry," poets.org)

CCRLD's first Summer Reading Program Poetry Slam is open to poets ages 10 and up, one poem per person or group. All participants will have their poem published in a collection of all works performed at the slam and will receive a free copy. Registration is strongly preferred but not required. For more information and to register, visit the Poetry Slam event page on our website, http://www.daytonmemoriallibrary.org.