Who cares about Poetry?

Chicago -- In a newly released report, Poetry in America, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago presents tthe research that finds 90 percent of American readers highly value poetry and believe it enriches the lives of those who read it.

"This study contradicts the assumption that poetry must be a marginalized art form; on the contrary, readers believe that poetry adds pleasure, depth, and understanding to the lives of those who read it," says John Barr, president of the Poetry Foundation.

Researchers gathered data on who reads poetry, why they turn to it, where they encounter it, and what types of poetry they hear and read. The report is available free of charge at www.PoetryFoundation.org, and can be downloaded (PDF) from this link.