Children's Literature Research Collection

1901 Vine Street, Rare Book Department (3rd Floor)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Open today 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Monday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Closed

Upcoming Closures

  • Mon., Oct. 14 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
  • Mon., Nov. 11 : Closed Veterans Day
  • Thu., Nov. 28 : Closed Thanksgiving Day
  • Wed., Dec. 25 : Closed Christmas Day
View all holiday closings

Upcoming Events

Creative Persuasion: The Art of Advertising and Promotion

Now through Fri, October 4, 2024 5:00 P.M.

No matter the sector—commercial, government, or nonprofit—the art of marketing is integral to engaging audiences and encouraging public support. Businesses, organizations, and…

Peter Rabbit Piracies in America

Fri, November 1, 2024 1:00 P.M.

The unauthorized reproduction or use of copyrighted text, also known as book piracy, is nearly as old as the printing press itself. Its prevalence across the last several centuries has resulted in…

Beyond the Textbook: Equity, Engagement, and Primary Sources in the Classroom

Sat, November 9, 2024 10:00 A.M.

The Free Library of Philadelphia's Special Collections Division , in partnership with the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries , is hosting Beyond the Textbook:…

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S LITERATURE RESEARCH COLLECTION

The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Children’s Literature Research Collection (CLRC) is one of the premier centers for the study of children’s literature in the United States. The Collection houses over 85,000 works of children’s literature and an archive of original artwork, manuscripts, and ephemera. The Children’s Literature Research Collection promotes the history, study, and development of children’s literature. CLRC engages the public about the importance of children’s literature in history and culture; expands the knowledge base of library patrons through research support; and fosters new ideas through displays and exhibitions. 


PLANNING YOUR RESEARCH VISIT

Materials in the Children's Literature Research Collection are free to access, however an appointment is required. Please note: materials in this Collection are non-circulating.

To learn more about booking an appoitment, follow this link: 

​​Due to ongoing server security issues, some international emails may not reach us. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have an international email address, utilize the “Ask a Librarian” feature on our website. Please note these responses may be delayed.


PLANNING YOUR GROUP VISIT

We welcome visits from schools, universities, and community organizations. We offer specialized appointments based upon the strengths of our collections. Instructors and group leaders are invited to schedule an appointment prior to the class visit in order to select items for their group to explore.

To learn more about booking an appointment, follow this link:

Due to ongoing server security issues, some international emails may not reach us. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have an international email address, utilize the “Ask a Librarian” feature on our website. Please note these responses may be delayed.


CHILDREN'S LITERATURE RESEARCH COLLECTION - SUBCOLLECTIONS

The Children's Literature Research Collection is divided into several areas of interest. To Learn more about our holdings, follow this link: 

​To view a list of finding aids created for our collection, visit the following link:

  • Finding Aids
    • Please note that not all of our archival holdings have published finding aids at this time. For questions concerning our archives, please contact CLRC@FreeLibrary.org.

RESEARCH SUPPORT

Your research needs may take you beyond our collection’s holdings.  We suggest visiting the following links depending on your area of interest or study:


SUPPORT THE CHILDREN'S LITERATURE RESEARCH COLLECTION

Please consider supporting the Children's Literature Research Collection. We depend on financial support to add new acquisitions to the collection, mount exhibitions, and care for the collection.