The Poets House Reading Room
and The Reed Foundation Library
Photograph ©2009 by Elizabeth Felicella

A national archive of 50,000 volumes of poetry, The Reed Foundation Library at Poets House includes books, chapbooks, literary journals, an audio and video tape archive, CDs, and electronic media. It is the largest and most comprehensive poetry collection available to the public in open stacks anywhere in the country.

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.

The Poets House Reading Room
and The Reed Foundation Library
Photograph ©2009 by Mark-Woods.com

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.

The Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room
Photograph ©2009 by Mark-Woods.com

Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room at Poets House

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 is the playfully designed Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room. Three times the size of the Children's Room at our former Spring Street location, this window-lined haven for youngsters features a rich assortment of children's books, manual typewriters, antique school desks, big stuffed animals, and an abundance of other inspiring objects and activities. The Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room is open Saturday, 11:00am–3:00pm. Class trips are by appointment. Extended hours launch April 2010.

The Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space
Photograph ©2009 by Elizabeth Felicella

Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space at Poets House

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. At Poets House's new home in Battery Park City, exhibitions are held in the Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space, a glass-walled, spherical gallery. Cantilevered over the lobby, the exhibition space appears to float in air, especially when illuminated at night. Exhibits showcase gems from the Poets House collection and innovative poetry-related works from around the world.