What’s New at the Poetry and Literature Center

As the end of summer draws near, we’re ramping up for our fall event season here at the Poetry and Literature Center. Check out our “Upcoming Events” page for newly added programs, and stay tuned in the coming weeks for even more!

Next Thursday, August 30, we kick off the season with an appointment ceremony celebrating the seventh class of National Student Poets—five outstanding youth poets who represent five different regions of the nation. Led by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Kathryn K. Matthew, the ceremony will include a poetry reading by each newly appointed poet. Reserve your ticket via Eventbrite. Can’t make it in person? Don’t worry: The event will be livestreamed on the Library’s Facebook page and its YouTube site.

If you’re attending the National Book Festival on Saturday, September 1, you can catch the National Student Poets again at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the Parade of States Stage. While you’re there, head to the Fiction Stage to catch E. Annie Proulx accept the 2018 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, and settle in for a day of stellar events at the Poetry and Prose stage—including a conversation between U.S. Poets Laureate Tracy K. Smith and Robert Hass, as well as programs featuring Poetry Out Loud, Natalie Diaz, Camille T. Dungy, Mark Eisner, Heid E. Erdrich, Jennifer Elise Foerster, Kay Redfield Jamison, Patricia Lockwood, James McBride, Lorrie Moore, Patrick Rosal, Richard Russo, and Fiona Sampson. Stick around, too, for the annual Youth Poetry Slam that will close out the Festival. For the full schedule, check out the National Book Festival website or download the handy app.

Not enough excitement for you? We’ve just added another new recording to our “Poetry of America” series: Listen to poet Mary Jo Salter read and discuss Richard Wilbur’s poem “A Plain Song for Comadre.”

To stay updated with all things related to the Poetry and Literature Center, sign up for our e-mail alerts and subscribe to our blog. We hope to see you at our upcoming events!