Honorary Office of Poet Laureate of Rockland, Maine

 

1. Appointment. During Poetry Month (April of each year) the Mayor of the City, after
notification of selection by the Librarian of the Rockland Public Library and
committee, shall proclaim a poet to serve as Rockland Poet Laureate, as nominated.
This position carries no salary or compensation, however honoraria donated to the PL
by any entities for the appearance of the PL shall be acceptable and allowed. There
shall be no fiscal impact on the Rockland Public Library or on the City of Rockland
by the office of Poet Laureate.

2. Application. Individuals may be nominated or may seek nomination in writing to the
Director of the Rockland Public Library. Such request must include proof of residency
and publication. Deadline for nominations is the 30th of March.

3. Term. The Rockland Poet Laureate is appointed for a 2-year term and may be
reappointed for a 2nd term. An individual may serve as Poet Laureate for an additional
(3rd) term after a break in service.

4. Advisory panel.

The "advisory selection committee," is created in accordance with the following
provisions.

A. The Director of the Rockland Public Library shall assemble an advisory selection
committee of no more than 3 members with expertise in poetry. The Director of the
Rockland Public Library and up to 2 others shall cochair this advisory selection
committee, for a total of 5 members.

B. The advisory selection committee shall advertise in the appropriate media for
nominations of potential candidates. By March 1st of the year in which the term of a
poet laureate is due to end, the advisory selection committee shall recommend one
name to the Director of the Rockland Public Library for appointment as the Rockland
Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate shall be announced at the end of Poetry Month,
which is April.

C. If a vacancy occurs within the term of the Rockland Poet Laureate, the advisory
selection committee shall select as soon as possible a nominee for appointment to fill
the remainder of the term.

D. Members of the advisory selection committee are not entitled to per diem or
compensation for expenses related to selection of the Poet Laureate.

E. Eligibility. The individual appointed Rockland Poet Laureate must be a poet who is a
resident of Rockland and must have published distinguished poetry.

F. Duties. The Rockland Poet Laureate shall be responsible for promoting poetry in the
city by the following means:

     a. writing and presenting one talk or lecture on poetry (either on craft or on the
         history of poetry in Maine) per calendar year; this lecture is to be given at the
         library or another appropriate public venue

     b. writing and reading in public poems fitting for major events taking place in
         Rockland, ie. the Lobster Festival, Blues Festival, Memorial Day and Veterans’
         Day or other activities requested by the City or Library and agreed to by the PL.

     c. directing activities for Poetry Month, taking place in April of each year,
         coordinating with the Rockland Public Library on such activities and seeking
         cooperation and involvement with the community at large.

     d. other activities as he or she deems appropriate, fostering the poetic arts in
         Rockland

G. Copyright. Any written or audiographic materials generated by the Rockland Poet
Laureate shall remain his/her copyrighted material, free for publication and/or promotion
by the PL following its use by the Rockland Public Library or the City of Rockland in
any calendar year.