07/17/2008 GAAS:540:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | Email / Share
Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on the Appointment of Kay Ryan as U.S. Poet Laureate
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger issued the following statement after the Library of Congress
announced the appointment of Kay Ryan, of Marin County, as Library's 16th Poet Laureate
Consultant in Poetry for 2008 to 2009:
"On behalf of all
Californians, Maria and I congratulate Kay Ryan on her extraordinary appointment
as the nation's Poet Laureate. Her accomplishment highlights the importance of
the literary arts and her work will provide both California and the nation with a better
understanding and appreciation of poetry and the world we live
in."
The Poet Laureate is
appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress, serves from October to May and
seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the
reading and writing of poetry. The Laureate receives a $35,000 annual stipend,
gives an annual lecture and reading of his or her own poetry and usually
introduces poets in the Library's annual poetry series, the oldest in the
Washington area, and among the oldest in the United States.
