Kay Ryan, the new poet laureate consultant in poetry to the U.S. Library of Congress, has agreed to open the library's 2008-2009 literary season with a reading.

The library said the event is to take place Oct. 16 in the Mumford Room of the James Madison Building in Washington.

Sponsored by the library's Poetry and Literature Center in the Office of Scholarly Programs, the reading is free and open to the public.

Ryan also is scheduled to read at the Library of Congress National Book Festival Sept. 27 in the Poetry Pavilion on the National Mall.

She is expected to sign books at the festival, as well.

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced Ryan's appointment as the library's 16th poet laureate consultant in poetry in July.

"Kay Ryan is a distinctive and original voice within the rich variety of contemporary American poetry," Billington said upon announcing Ryan's new title. "She writes easily understandable short poems on improbable subjects. Within her compact compositions there are many surprises in rhyme and rhythm and in sly wit pointing to subtle wisdom."