Read-In V on May 4th
Join us for Read-In V on May 4
Update: Two NC Literary Voices to Join Asheboro Read-In V
The May 4 read-in will feature two of North Carolina’s most acclaimed literary voices: novelist and short story writer Jill McCorkle and Jaki Shelton Green, the current North Carolina Poet Laureate. Their appearance follows the April read-in attended by former North Carolina Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti.
McCorkle is one of North Carolina’s most celebrated writers. She published her first two novels on the same day in 1984 and has since written numerous novels and story collections, including Hieroglyphics, Life After Life, and the 2024 collection Old Crimes and Other Stories. Five of her books have been named New York Times notable books, and four of her stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories. Her honors include the North Carolina Award for Literature, the Thomas Wolfe Prize, the John Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.
Green was appointed the ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina in 2018, becoming the first African American and third woman to hold the post. Her many honors include the North Carolina Award for Literature, induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship, and the North Carolina Humanities Council Caldwell Award. She recently retired as professor of documentary poetry at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. Her books include Dead on Arrival, Conjure Blues, Feeding the Light, i want to undie you, and The Communion of White Dresses.
Schedule
Update: Two NC Literary Voices to Join Asheboro Read-In V
The May 4 read-in will feature two of North Carolina’s most acclaimed literary voices: novelist and short story writer Jill McCorkle and Jaki Shelton Green, the current North Carolina Poet Laureate. Their appearance follows the April read-in attended by former North Carolina Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti.
McCorkle is one of North Carolina’s most celebrated writers. She published her first two novels on the same day in 1984 and has since written numerous novels and story collections, including Hieroglyphics, Life After Life, and the 2024 collection Old Crimes and Other Stories. Five of her books have been named New York Times notable books, and four of her stories have appeared in Best American Short Stories. Her honors include the North Carolina Award for Literature, the Thomas Wolfe Prize, the John Dos Passos Prize for Excellence in Literature, and induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.
Green was appointed the ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina in 2018, becoming the first African American and third woman to hold the post. Her many honors include the North Carolina Award for Literature, induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship, and the North Carolina Humanities Council Caldwell Award. She recently retired as professor of documentary poetry at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. Her books include Dead on Arrival, Conjure Blues, Feeding the Light, i want to undie you, and The Communion of White Dresses.
Schedule
- 5:00 pm Read-In
The read-in is open to the public. Supporters are encouraged to attend, bring a favorite book, and take part in a peaceful, visible demonstration of support for the library before the commissioners’ meeting begins. If you have a "Read Free NC" pin, please wear it to show your support. We will have a few on hand for anyone who needs one. Before the meeting, attendees can also sign up to share during the public comment portion how libraries and reading have influenced their lives. - 6:00 pm Commissioners Meeting
We urge you to sign up for public comment before the meeting starts, and speak in support of our library. The County Commissioners usually wait to publish their agenda until the Friday afternoon before their Monday meeting, so we do not yet know if there will be any action concerning the library. But we intend to stand united in support of our library regardless.
We were honored to have former NC Poet Laureate Joseph Bathanti join us at the April Read-In. He stayed for the commissioners meeting and eloquently spoke on the freedom to read during public comment. Keep an eye on your email for updates on the Read-In and new videos featuring our speakers.
Starts on
Monday, May 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM EDT
Randolph County Historic Courthouse
145-C Worth Street
Asheboro, NC, 27203
United States
Get Directions via Google Maps
