This volume serves as a comprehensive index to American periodical verse published in 1980, offering a critical resource for understanding the landscape of contemporary poetry. Authored by James D. Anderson and Rafael Catala, this index meticulously catalogues poetry from a diverse range of publications, including literary, scholarly, popular, and specialized journals. It aims to provide an objective measure of poetic output, revealing trends in poets' work and the cultural influences shaping them. The scope encompasses poets from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and beyond, reflecting a global perspective on American verse.

The Index of American Periodical Verse is recognized as a vital tool for researchers specializing in contemporary poetry. Its systematic compilation of periodical verse provides an objective metric for assessing poetic output and identifying emerging trends and influences within the literary landscape. The breadth of publications indexed ensures a comprehensive overview of the poetry being produced across various cultural and geographical spheres.