Press release submitted by Bettendorf Public Library

NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED POET LI-YOUNG LEE TO READ AT BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY

On Wednesday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Gilbert-Lillienthal Rooms of the Bettendorf Public Library, Li-Young Lee and the winners of the Love & Forgiveness Poetry contest will give a free poetry reading. Lee, the son of Chinese parents who escaped persecution in Indonesia, is a nationally acclaimed author of four books of poetry whose themes include loss, exile, family, home, love, and death. Also reading their prize-winning poems will be John McBride, Sarah Gardner, Tony Cardoso, Jacob Rasmussen, Sarah Rodriguez, and Liz Kuster. Local artist Katie Kiley will unveil her interpretation of the two first-place poems. This part of the Library’s Love & Forgiveness Project was funded by the Bettendorf Public Library Foundation. Lee’s books will be available for sale.