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Alise Wascom

State Library of Louisiana/Louisiana Center for the Book

Tell us a bit about yourself, the organization you represent, and the work you do.

I’ve always loved books and stories. I have a BFA in writing, literature and publishing from Emerson College, and an MFA in fiction writing. My background is in the indie bookstore world where I’ve worked as everything from a bookseller to manager to events and marketing coordinator. Currently, I work for the State Library of Louisiana, which does many amazing things for Louisiana including offering training and support to libraries across the state, housing the Talking Books and Braille Library, providing statewide electronic resources and databases, and more. In my position as administrative coordinator in library development and for the Louisiana Center for the Book, I have the opportunity to work on programs such as the Louisiana Book Festival and Louisiana Young Reader’s Choice Awards—two programs which help to promote a love of books and passion for reading—and, occasionally, special projects such as Tracy K. Smith’s visit. It is extremely rewarding work.

Tell us about your community/the communities you serve, and your part of the country.

I am fairly new to Louisiana—I moved here five years ago from the Northeast with my husband, a Louisiana, Gulf Coast native. During my time here I’ve learned so much about the region: that Mardi Gras is a season, not a day; exactly how popular college football really is; and how to pronounce words and names that end in -eaux. The landscape is entirely unique and stunningly beautiful, even as it is being threatened by climate change and coastal erosion. Louisiana is rich in diversity and even richer in culture, be it food, music, art, language, or literature. Unfortunately, and due to a complicated variety of causes, Louisiana suffers a great deal from poverty. This makes the State Library’s mission to provide enrichment and information to all residents of Louisiana all the more vital.

What did it mean to you and your community to host the U.S. Poet Laureate?

For places that are often left off the national literary circuit, having someone such as the Poet Laureate of the United States to choose to visit the Louisiana bayou does not go unnoticed. It is incredibly easy for people in rural places, especially young people, to feel forgotten and left behind, and then to internalize those feelings. And so Tracy K. Smith’s visit was very meaningful.

On a personal note, it was a privilege to help organize this leg of the “American Conversations” tour. The best part of my job, always, is connecting readers with books, stories, and authors that will change their lives (the way only the best books can). To see people introduced to very good poetry in a way they maybe hadn’t before, and to see Tracy empower participants to own their understanding and interpretations of the work was very powerful.

Can you share any feedback you received from event attendees/participants?

The most common response I heard was surprise and delight that the U.S. Poet Laureate had chosen Southern Louisiana as a stop on her “American Conversations” tour!

What, if any, type of literary programming do you present in your community? How did this program fit in?

This program fit in very well with what we do here at the Louisiana Center for the Book, and in the State Library. I was struck especially with the way that children, even very young children, responded to Tracy’s presentation, which reminded me how important it is to include poetry in our programs for young people. For example, to make sure books in verse are included in our consideration titles for Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Awards, or to highlight poetry in the summer reading manuals we use to train librarians throughout Louisiana.

Whether for adults or young people, reintroducing people to poetry can be so powerful. We are hoping to translate Tracy K. Smith’s guided conversation with American Journal into a simple program that librarians across the state can bring to their patrons.

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