Collections of the Woodberry Poetry Room

Explore our in-room collection of poetry monographs and magazines and our archive of literary recordings and related materials.

The Poetry Room is home to a wide range of poetry-related collections, including a landmark collection of literary recordings (1933–present) and a browsable collection of contemporary English-language monographs and magazines (accessible at our Lamont Library location). Our collection of rare books, broadsides, typescripts, and fragile media can be accessed via Houghton Library. 

Note: The Poetry Room has been removed as a "Location" in HOLLIS Library Catalog as of 2026. We apologize for this inconvenience. Harvard Library advises our patrons are to search for "Lamont Library/POE GEN" in the tiny dropdown menu under LIBRARIES & CODES. 

Lamont Library Collections

The Poetry Room’s collections at Lamont Library include over 5,000 circulating books and 100 lit mags (which patrons are welcome to browse), as well as our commercial LP collection (which is available for listening on the Aalto turntables by appointment).  

Collection

Woodberry Poetry Room Circulating & Serials Collection

Collection

Woodberry Poetry Room Collection of Vinyl Records

A student using the turntables in the Woodberry Poetry Room, circa 1949

The Listening Booth Digital Collection

Access more than 600 recordings from the Poetry Room's landmark collection of literary recordings, including rare archival recordings and contemporary born-digital recordings.
 

Explore The Listening Booth

Houghton Library Collections

The Poetry Room’s rare materials — including the Blue Star collection of rare books, broadsides, photographs, and typescripts, and the Frederick C. Packard, Jr. sound recordings — are accessible via Houghton's Reading Room. Some AV formats (including duplicate cassettes and vinyl records) may be accessed at our Lamont location. 

 

Collection

Woodberry Poetry Room Collection of Literary Recordings

Collection

Woodberry Poetry Room Blue Star Collection

Collection

Frederick C. Packard, Jr., Sound Recordings

Access

The Woodberry Poetry Room, located at Lamont Library, is open to the public. Please inform Lamont security that you're “visiting the Poetry Room.” A form of photo ID is required.

Non-Harvard affiliates interested in borrowing books can apply for a borrower’s card. 

Our Blue Star collection and archival AV collections can be requested for viewing at Houghton Library. 

Location

Lamont Library, Room 330
11 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Two Roads Diverged (Google Maps) Accessibility FAQ

Connect

General
617-495-2454
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