United States Poet Laureate

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The poet laureate consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress, commonly referred to as the United States poet laureate, serves as the official poet of the United States. During their term, the poet laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry. The position was modeled on the poet laureate of the United Kingdom.

Rita DoveAmerican poet and author (born 1952)Rita Frances Dove (born August 28, 1952) is an American poet and essayist. She served as poet laureate consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress from 1993 to 1995, becoming the first African American appointed to the position after it was established in 1986. In 1987, she became the second African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

Maxine KuminMaxine Kumin (June 6, 1925 – February 6, 2014) was an American poet and author. She was appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1981–1982. BiographyEarly yearsMaxine Kumin was born Maxine Winokur on June 6, 1925 in Philadelphia, the daughter of Jewish parents, and attended a Catholic kindergarten and primary school. She received her B.A. in 1946 and her M.A. in 1948 from Radcliffe College of Harvard University.

Librarian of CongressThe librarian of Congress is the head of the Library of Congress, appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the United States Senate, for a term of ten years. The librarian of Congress also appoints and oversees the register of copyrights of the U.S. Copyright Office and has broad responsibilities around copyright, extending to electronic resources and fair use provisions outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Poetry FoundationThe Poetry Foundation is an American literary foundation based in Chicago. It was established in 2003 after philanthropist Ruth Lilly made a bequest to the Modern Poetry Association, which was founded in 1941 to support the publication of Poetry, and was the predecessor of the Poetry Foundation. Lilly's bequest later grew to about $200 million. The foundation continues to publish Poetry magazine.

Arthur SzeArthur Sze (English: ; Chinese: 施家彰; pinyin: Shī Jiāzhāng; born 1950) is an American poet, translator, editor, and professor. He is the 25th United States poet laureate, serving his term in 2025–26; on 14 April 2026 Sze was named to a second term as poet laureate for 2026–2027. Since 1972, he has published twelve collections of poetry.

Poet Laureate of the United KingdomThe British poet laureate is an honorary position appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the prime minister. The role does not entail any specific duties, but there is an expectation that the holder will write verse for significant national occasions. The laureateship dates to 1616 when a pension was provided to Ben Jonson, but the first official laureate was John Dryden, appointed in 1668 by Charles II.

Center for the BookThe Library of Congress's Center for the Book was founded in 1977 by Daniel J. Boorstin, the Librarian of Congress, to promote literacy, libraries, and reading and an understanding of the history and heritage of American literature. The Center for the Book is mainly supported by tax-deductibledonations.

Poet laureateA poet laureate (plural: poets laureate) is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) of Arezzo were the first to be crowned poets laureate after the classical age, respectively in 1315 and 1342. In Britain, the term dates from the appointment of Bernard André by Henry VII of England.Young People's Poet LaureateYoung People's Poet Laureate is a position and award that was established by the Poetry Foundation in 2006. The position is to promote children's poetry in the United States. The organization changed the name from Children's Poet Laureate to capture a broader range of ages.2000 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).1984 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).1985 in poetryNationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).

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