Hi whitcath,
Assuming you are referring to the position of "Poet Laureate
Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress", the poet's works
fall under the same copyright laws as anyone else's, therefore the
answer to your question is "no". The poet receives a stripend to
perform certain duties at the library, but any poetry he/she writes
during the term of the position belong to the poet.
About the Position:
"The Laureate receives a $35,000 annual stipend funded by a gift from
Archer M. Huntington. The Library keeps to a minimum the specific
duties in order to afford incumbents maximum freedom to work on their
own projects while at the Library. The Laureate gives an annual
lecture and reading of his or her 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."
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/about_laureate.html
Current Poet Laureate Ted Kooser:
"In April 2005, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington appointed
Ted Kooser to serve a second term as Poet Laureate Consultant in
Poetry, during the same week that Kooser received the 2005 Pulitzer
Prize for Poetry for his book, "Delights and Shadows" (2004)."
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/laureate_current.html
For example, permission is required from Copper Canyon Press to
reprint portions of "Delights and Shadows".
ON THE ROAD
Ted Kooser
from Delights & Shadows. Copyright 2004 by Ted Kooser.
Reprinted with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, Port Townsend, WA.
http://www.literary-arts.org/pim.htm
Copper Canyon Press:
Ted Kooser
2005 Pulitzer Prize Winner
"Copper Canyon Press extends heartfelt congratulations to U.S. Poet
Laureate Ted Kooser, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for
his collection Delights & Shadows."
http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/
Permissions
"Thank you for your interest in using work published by Copper Canyon
Press. To protect copyright and to ensure that our poets are paid for
re-publication and dissemination of their work, we require a
Permissions Contract to stipulate and validate the terms and
conditions of use. Charges vary depending upon usage."
http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/400_opportunities/410_rights_permissions/rights_permissions.cfm
Contract for Permissions:
http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/400_opportunities/410_rights_permissions/form_online.cfm
Regarding copyrights of past Poet Laureates, anything published before
1923 is in the public domain.
When U.S. Works Pass Into the Public Domain:
"Published before 1923: In public domain"
http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm
How do I find out whether the book is in the public domain?
"Anything copyrighted prior to 1923 is in the public domain.
(Practically speaking, this includes anything published prior to 1923,
since publication without copyright put the work straight into the
public domain."
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/okbooks.html#whatpd
U.S. Copyright Office:
http://www.copyright.gov/
Poet Laureate Timeline: 1937 - 1952
http://www.loc.gov/poetry/laureate.html
That all said, it's always more difficult to prove something that
*doesn't* exist versus something that *does*. Therefore, just to be
absolutely certain, I've submitted an enquiry to the Library of
Congress which will be answered some time next week. I'll let you
know their response just as soon as I receive it. I've enjoyed
researching this question for you, if you have any questions, please
post a clarification request *before* closing/rating my answer and
I'll be happy to reply.
Thank you,
hummer
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