IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE Poetry Program by Detroit’s Poet Laureate, Dr. Naomi L. Madgett Celebrates Joint Anniversaries of Detroit Public Library and Broadside Press and Merger of Historic Broadside Press and Lotus Press March 23, 2015 The Detroit Public Library (DPL) and Broadside Press will co-sponsor a poetry presentation by Detroit Poet Laureate, Dr. Naomi L. Madgett. This event has been organized in celebration of DPL’s 150 th anniversary, and Broadside Press’s 50 th anniversary. The program will take place on March 31, 2015 at 6:00 p.m., in the Clara Stanton Jones Friends Auditorium of the DPL Main Library, 5201 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202. One special feature of this evening will be the official announcement of the merger of Broadside Press and Lotus Press, two of the nation’s longest operating African American publishing houses. Lotus Press was founded in 1972 by Dr. Madgett. Broadside Press was founded by Dudley Randall in 1965. With the merger, the press will be known as Broadside Lotus Press. For more information concerning this event, contact: The Detroit Public Library 313 481-1339 or Broadside Lotus Press: 313 736-5338.