Lawson Inada to Read at Event Marking William Stafford’s & Oregon’s Birthdays
Sunday, January 11th, 2009, at 2:00 p.m.
Beaverton City Library Auditorium, 12375 SW 5th St., Beaverton
www.beavertonlibrary.org

Lawson Fusao Inada, Oregon Poet Laureate, and Paul Merchant, William Stafford archivist, will read at a historic literary event honoring both Oregon Reads 2009, in celebration of Oregon’s 150th birthday, and the life and work of Oregon’s most beloved poet, William Stafford. The event is scheduled for Sunday, January 11th at 2 pm at the Beaverton City Library auditorium.

Inada will read poems from Legends from Camp based on his family’s experience in a WWII internment camp for Japanese Americans. He will be joined by Paul Merchant who will read from Stafford’s writings in conscientious objector camps. This event commemorates William Stafford’s life as a conscientious objector, as well as the World War II internment experience of the Yasui family relayed in Stubborn Twig by Lauren Kessler, the book chosen for Oregon Reads 2009.

This event is free and co-sponsored by the Beaverton City Library and the Friends of William Stafford. For more information, contact the library at 503 644-2197, www.beavertonlibrary.org.