Poetry in Transit, an award-winning community program, will host a free public launch party Friday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. at Barnes and Noble on South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, to introduce the 14 poets whose work will be featured on Luzerne County Transportation Authority buses in the coming year.

Contributing poets will be Jenica Lodde, Melanie Simms, Elise Emersyn, Janine Dubik, Thomas Johnson-Medland, Rob Burnside, Herbie Baldwin, Kristin Ivey, Sara Pisak, Rich Hancuff, Donna Gelagotis, Marcy Ledvinka, Jill Patton and Brianna Schunk. The selected poets will share their works at the event.

This year’s theme is “Small,” and the poems are featured on LCTA buses for up to one year, with a monthly rotation so that riders can see all of the selections.