NEWS For Immediate Release April 23, 2013

Contact: Megan McFarlane

CHICAGO – It seems appropriate that the Bard of Avon's birthday should take place during the same month we celebrate National Poetry Month. It is no surprise that libraries across the country are celebrating the 449th birthday of William Shakespeare. 

Rock Island (Ill.) Public Library commemorates the Shakespeare’s 449th birthday with Shakespeare @ your library. Shakespeare @ your library kicks off on Shakespeare’s birthday, April 23, with an in-depth look at one of the Bard’s greatest villains.  Who is Macbeth? explores the historical person and personality of Macbeth. The library will also play host later in the week to local high school students as they perform scenes from The Tempest, with a student-run discussion to follow. 

York (Maine) Public Library uses Shakespeare’s birthday to showcase the library’s collection in Shakespeare @ your library. In addition to encouraging library users to re-read the Shakespeare’s plays or sonnets, the library also recommends that users delve deeper in the character of Shakespeare himself by checking out biographies, as well a contemporary works with Shakespearian themes and influences, as well as movie and television adaptations of his works.

The Sidney-Richland County Library of Richland County, Mont., uses the theme Shakespeare @ your library to promote its annual Shakespeare in the Park movie night. Each year the library hosts a screening of a film adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s plays, presented by a local Shakespeare expert who will host a pre-screening discussion of the major themes and historical context of the plays.

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