April is National Poetry Month! Launched by the s in April 1996, reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K鈥�12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and, of course, poets, marking poetry’s important place in our lives.
Inspired by and resources from the Library of Congress, each week this month we will look at place-based poetry, going from the world to your neighborhood. This week we will look at national poetry.
The highest poetry office in the country belongs鈥攂oth literally and symbolically鈥攖o the US Poet Laureate. Headquartered at the Library鈥檚 Poetry and Literature Center in the attic of the Thomas Jefferson Building, the Poet Laureateship is the only national position dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation of poetry among the American public. Originally established in 1936 as an endowed Chair of Poetry in the English Language, the position, as conceived by Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam, was created to build the Library鈥檚 literary collections and encourage their public use. Learn more in from the Library of Congress.
Appointed by the Librarian of Congress, the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry serves as the nation’s official poet. a growing collection of research guides on US Poets Laureate and Consultants in Poetry from the Library of Congress.
起点传媒has been fortunate to work with and learn from a number of US Poets Laureates:
How do you engage with the Poet Laureates?
Curious about the 起点传媒and Library of Congress connection? Through a grant announced by 起点传媒Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick, 起点传媒is engaged in ongoing work with the Library of Congress, and 鈥渨ill connect the ELA community with the Library of Congress to expand the use of primary sources in teaching.鈥� Stay tuned for more throughout the year!
It is the policy of 起点传媒in all publications, including the Literacy & 起点传媒blog, to provide a forum for the open discussion of ideas concerning the content and the teaching of English and the language arts. Publicity accorded to any particular point of view does not imply endorsement by the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the staff, or the membership at large, except in announcements of policy, where such endorsement is clearly specified.