U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo will read from her book as a part of Booth Library’s Big Read Program and other programs on campus in a virtual event Jan. 30 at 1 p.m.

Harjo will read from her book “An American Sunrise: Poems” and answer questions following the reading.

“In ‘American Sunrise,’ Harjo’s eighth collection of poems, she revisits the homeland from which her ancestors were uprooted in 1830 as a result of the Indian Removal Act. The book explores the power of nature, spirituality, memory, violence, and the splintered history of America’s indigenous peoples,” according to a press release from Booth Library.

The program is free and open to the public.

Harjo’s program is sponsored by Booth Library, the Broward County Library (Florida), Broward Public Library Foundation Inc., and Florida Center for the Book.

The event is also part of the annual Lions in Winter festival sponsored by Eastern’s English Department.

“There are few literary voices in America today that are more important than Joy Harjo,” said Dean of Library Services Zach Newell. “We are incredibly fortunate to be able to introduce our patrons to such a powerful and personal work of literature at a time of continued civic unrest in our country. We should all take Harjo’s message to heart.”

Harjo was named Poet Laureate in 2019.

She is the first Native American to hold the position. Harjo is on her second term and is scheduled to begin her third term in September.

Harjo is known for being an award-winning poet, writer, performer and saxophone player of the Mvskoke/Creek Nation.

The Big Read is an initiative from the National Endowment for the Arts. It helps to broaden individual’s understanding of the world, their communities and themselves through the sharing of books.

Booth Library received a $14,000 Big Read grant to support a community reading program during the 2020-2021 academic year. The local program is focused on “An American Sunrise.”

Those interested in attending the book reading and Q&A can find a link to participate in the Microsoft Teams call at https://www.eiu.edu/booth/bigread/program.php.

Anyone who would like a free paperback copy of “An American Sunrise” may contact Booth Library. For more information, contact Janice Derr, Big Read project director at Booth Library, at [email protected] or 217-581-7555.

Other Big Read programs will be sponsored in the month of April. Those interested in attending upcoming events can look for an updated schedule at https://www.eiu.edu/booth/bigread/.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].