Library Services
At Poets House, poets and poetry lovers can listen to poetry on tape, watch a poetry video, or read and write in a space dedicated to them. An extensive network of support services includes reference materials, typewriters, low-cost photocopying and the help of a professional staff. An active bulletin board and material from literary organizations around the country make Poets House a clearinghouse for information about poetry and poetry resources.
Extent of the Collection
Focusing on contemporary American poetry, the collection includes virtually all books published in the United States during the past decade; the greatest possible range of poetry published during the last century (in English or in bilingual editions); and representative volumes of the poetry of all times and places.
We also have alternate editions of important works, multiple translations, biography, criticism, and prose works by poets.
Special Collections–Literary Journals
One of the first things any visitor to Poets House sees is our extensive, ongoing, revolving display of current literary journals. Maddeningly various, frequently short-lived or irregularly published, literary journals are the bloodstream of American poetry. At Poets House, one can find thousands of literary journals, many of them in complete runs, some of them dating back to the early part of the century. While the oldest issues must be requested in advance, current issues are kept in a prominent display. For information on how to donate a literary journal, click here.
Special Collections–Chapbooks
One of the most comprehensive and various chapbook collections available anywhere can be found at Poets House. It includes early work by many of the best known poets writing today, mature work not yet published in book form, and the first publications of emerging writers from around the country. The chapbook collection is a miniature laboratory of poetry production, including everything from homemade booklets to fine arts press publications.
Special Collections–Multimedia Archive
The Axe-Houghton Multimedia Archive is a substantive gathering of voices drawn from recordings of over 20 years of programming at Poets House, as well as live events spanning the last century from a range of literary venues including the Academy of American Poets, Biblio's/Mad Alex, Cross-Cultural Communications, the Nuyorican Poets Café, and the Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church. The archive includes videos from the Lannan Literary Voices series and Mystic Fire Videos; CDs from Mouth Almighty, Random House and Rhino Records; rare LPs from the Library of Congress; and priceless recordings from the private reel-to-reel collections of the late Stanley Kunitz and Elizabeth Kray.
Visitors to Poets House's new home in Battery Park City will be able to explore our vast audio archive using Poets House iPods. Browsable both by the author who is speaking and by the authors that are being discussed, Poets House iPods offer a digital exhibition that reflects the broad spectrum of poetry recorded over the last century.
Poets House Children's Room
Since 2001, Poets House has offered children (ages 4 to 10) an intimate, inviting setting in which to delight in our children’s collection, containing poetic works by distinguished children's authors and award-winning illustrators from around the world. One of the highlights of Poets House's new home in Battery Park City will be its expanded and architecturally-inspiring Children's Room, a whimsical space in which youngsters can make themselves at home with words under a ceiling bedecked with a thousand origami cranes. Until then, a wide array of Poets House children’s events will take place at the New York Public Library, Mulberry Street Branch, the Children's Museum of the Arts and other venues.
Exhibit Space
Since 2001, Poets House has presented a series of exhibitions that honor the relationship between written and visual media, including paintings, drawings, prints, photography, book arts, sculpture, architectural models and archival manuscripts, correspondence and journals. The Exhibition Space is currently closed in advance of our move to Battery Park City. The future home of Poets House will feature a dedicated, state-of-the-art Exhibition Space that will showcase gems from our collection and innovative poetry-related works from around the world. |
