Penza, 22 January 2015. PenzaNews. Victor Gvozdev, first deputy head of Penza administration, member of the Russian Writers Union, read his own poems for children during an official meeting dedicated to the beginning of the Year of Literature campaign in the central public library of the city on Thursday, January 22.

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The poems he read were titled “It’s Spring Outside” and “Good Daughter.”

According to Victor Gvozdev, the Year of Literature will involve numerous creative platforms for all aspiring poets and writers to let others know about themselves and speak to their peers.

“Children and adults must read and think more. We have everything we need for that,” he noted.

The high-ranking official added that works of modern writers deserve no less interest than those written by renowned classics.

“We live in the present, and we must make the history ourselves,” Victor Gvozdev added.

In her turn, Vera Feigina, head of the Penza Department of Culture, stated the Year of Culture will feature nearly 100 events dedicated to Alexander Griboedov, Sergei Yesenin, Alexander Kuprin, Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov and other well-known personalities.

The Penza audience also received a welcoming speech from their Crimean colleague – Tatyana Parusnikova, member and secretary of the Yalta branch of the Russian Writers Union.

“For this year, I wish not only successes in our art, but also fame and popularity among publishers,” she said.

As an example, she reminded about the practice of the city of Tolyatti, where local writers and poets publish yearly in small-print books.

“Penza presents itself in a very favorable light,” she added, wishing good luck in their work to the audience.