It’s National Poetry Month, and we’re proud to introduce the inaugural Best Poetry Books Committee at The New York Public Library! Over the course of the year, nine committee members from the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island will rigorously read, review, and discuss the best poetry books 2019 has to offer.

Our members are:

• Catherine Blauvelt, Collection Development
• Ian Brand, Washington Heights Library
• Crystal Chen (co-chair), Woodstock Library
• Nina Maness, Parkchester Library
• Chasity Moreno, ASK NYPL
• Joshua Soule, Spuyten Duyvil Library
• Alysia Vargas, West New Brighton Library
• Emily Wejchert, Mid-Manhattan Library at 42nd Street
• Grace Yamada (co-chair), Jefferson Market Library

Inspired by day-to-day interactions with Library patrons and the wide array of poetry NYPL has to offer, the committee will not only select the 10 best poetry books of 2019, but will also pilot programs and make resources available to all poetry lovers.

For the month of April, each committee member will publish a blog post on a range of poetry-related topics, whether centered on the work of famed poet, W.S. Merwin or exploring the power of female rage. As we release more posts over the course of the month, we'll update here with links for easy access. 

Thanks to NYPL Readers Services and all our reading members for making New York a more poetic place. Please see our event listings for upcoming readings and discussion groups, for more ways to connect to material that will enlighten, challenge, and connect. And check out our National Poetry Month page to read and download original poems written just for NYPL.

Blog posts from Best Poetry Books Committee members

"The Struggle of Love" by Alysia Vargas
"Women Who Fight Back with Poetry" by Nina Maness
"When Did Poetry Come to You" by Joshua Soule
"Evolution of the Love Poem" by Chasity Moreno
"The Poetry of W.S. Merwin" by Ian Brand
"Interview with Magdalena Zurawski: The Tiniest Muzzle Sings Songs of Freedom" by Catherine Blauvelt
"Poetry on the Go: Six Contemporary Poets to Take With You" by Emily Wejchert

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