Library of Congress Poetry Resources

Poetry Home Page

OVERVIEW

The Library's poetry home page is the primary resource for finding poetry-related information on the Library's web site. The major features accessible through the poetry home page are listed below.

Poetry Page Resources

National Projects of U.S. Poets Laureate

Several recent Poets Laureate have created national projects during their terms designed to increase the visibility and appreciation of poetry in the United States. These projects are:

Poetry for the Mind's Joy

Kay Ryan's Poetry for the Mind’s Joy project included a community college poetry contest administered by the Community College Humanities Association, and a video conference with four community colleges in April, 2010.

American Life in Poetry

Ted Kooser's American Life in Poetry provides newspapers and online publications with a free weekly column featuring contemporary American poems.

Poetry 180

A project created by Billy Collins to make it easy for high school students to hear or read a poem on each of the 180 days of the school year.

Favorite Poem Project

Robert Pinsky's Favorite Poem Project was designed for Americans to share their favorite poems. The Favorite Poem Project web site includes 50 short video documentaries showcasing individual Americans reading and speaking personally about poems they love.

Poetry Events

A schedule of upcoming poetry readings, lectures, and other events held at the Library.

Poetry Prizes

Learn about the Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry and Witter Bynner Fellowships. Lists of current and past recipients are included. Also review the featured page on the 2007 Witter Bynner Fellows.

Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress

Learn the history behind the position of United States Poet Laureate. Brief biographies of the current Poet Laureate as well as former Poets Laureate are available.

Poetry & Literature Center

The Poetry & Literature Center is the home of the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress. Read about its history and activities.

Archive of Recorded Poetry & Literature

Begun in 1943 when Allen Tate was Consultant in Poetry to the Library, the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature now contains recordings of over 2,000 poets reading their own work. Learn how to listen to these recordings at the Library of Congress.