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Mona Van Duyn served as the Library of Congress's 6th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry from 1992-1993. The links below provide more information about Van Duyn's activities at the Library.
On June 15, 1992, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington appointed Mona Van Duyn to be the 6th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. She was the first female to serve as U.S. Poet Laureate.
Van Duyn took up her duties in the fall of 1992, opening the annual literary season in October with a reading of her work.
Mona Van Duyn served one term as Poet Laureate. Commenting on Van Duyn's laureateship, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said:
She has brought wisdom and style to the role of Poet Laureate of the United States. During her special time at the Library, she has given us two new kinds of literary programs: readings for children, as exemplified with the recent evening with Lloyd Alexander, and dramatic readings, which included the very successful rendition of James Merrill's "Voices from Sandover."
Throughout Van Duyn's time as Poet Laureate, she worked to engage the public with lectures and readings, bringing greater attention to the position.
Library of Congress press releases about Mona Van Duyn's poet laureate appointment, activities, and events are listed below.
Library of Congress blog posts about Mona Van Duyn.
The Library of Congress features several recordings of Mona Van Duyn reading and discussing her poetry and the poetry of other poets. These are listed below.
