On June 10, 2015, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the appointment of Juan Felipe Herrera as the 21st Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. On making the appointment, Dr. Billington said:

I see in Herrera’s poems the work of an American original—work that takes the sublimity and largesse of “Leaves of Grass” and expands upon it. His poems engage in a serious sense of play—in language and in image—that I feel gives them enduring power. I see how they champion voices and traditions and histories, as well as a cultural perspective, which is a vital part of our larger American identity.

Herrera participated in the 2015 National Book Festival, which took place on September 5. His inaugural reading as Poet Laureate occurred in the Library's Coolidge Auditorium on Tuesday, September 15, 2015. He spent much of his first term as Laureate traveling across the country conducting reading, lectures, and workshops with students and members of the general public. In all, Herrera made some 130 official appearances during his two terms as Laureate.

This guide provides an overview of print and online resources related to Juan Felipe Herrera's life and work. To suggest additions to this guide, please contact the Researcher and Reference Services Division.