From modest beginnings, this “place for poetry” has become an 11,000-square-foot home for poetry with a collection exceeding 60,000 volumes and serving 50,000 people on-site each year and millions more nationally and online each year. The Reed Foundation Library at Poets House, a national archive of 60,000 volumes of poetry that is free and open to the public, includes books, chapbooks, literary journals and the Axe-Houghton Multimedia Archive. It is the largest and most comprehensive independent poetry collection available to the public in open stacks anywhere in the country. At Poets House, poets and poetry lovers can read, work on their computers using free WiFi, listen to poetry on tape, watch poetry videos, view art exhibitions or attend a workshop or reading. An extensive network of support services includes reference materials, 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.
Founded in 1985 by poet Stanley Kunitz and arts administrator Elizabeth (Betty) Kray, Poets House has created a home for all who read and write poetry. The library was modeled on The Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre in London – England’s national poetry library that is open to visitors – and established itself modestly in a New York City public high school. In 1986, the library officially opened with a collection of 600 books from Paul Zweig.
In the summer of 2009, Poets House moved to its permanent home at 10 River Terrace in Battery Park City. This 11,000-square-foot, eco-friendly “green” space features The Reed Foundation Library, Margo Viscusi Reading Room and Frank Platt Listening Center; Kray Hall, a state-of-the-art auditorium that opens onto a natural amphitheater in Teardrop Park South; the Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space, a glass-walled gallery space for poetry-related installations and archives; and the Constance Laibe Hays Children’s Room, a whimsical children’s poetry room with free programs for families and schools.
The Constance Laibe Hays Children’s Room at Poets House offers opportunities for children to experience poetry, attend unique performances and participate in creating poetry, art, music and dance. Every object in the room is intended to promote thought and creative association. Children can also compose poetry or prose on old-fashioned manual typewriters (believe it or not, a huge favorite among the digital generation) or explore our wooden card catalogue filled with different objects and related poems to be used as writing prompts. In addition to poetry experiences for children age four to ten with acclaimed artists and poets, we offer Tiny Poets Time for toddlers. From the Bronx to Brownsville, thousands of children from more than 85 public schools have been introduced to poetry. Poets House serves more than 8,000 children annually.