Children's Literature Research Collection
| 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
- Thu., Jun. 19 : Closed Juneteenth
- Fri., Jul. 4 : Closed Independence Day
- Mon., Sep. 1 : Closed Labor Day
- Mon., Oct. 13 : Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
Upcoming Events
Go Birds: Appreciating Our Avian Friends
Now through Sat, August 30, 2025
5:00 P.M.
From June 2nd to August 30th, 2025, visit the Second Floor Gallery West at the Parkway Central Library to view the Go Birds: Appreciating Our Avian Friends exhibition. Birds have long captivated humankind with their graceful flight, unique plumage, and enchanting songs. Adapting to…
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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 100,000 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, visit the links below:
- Children's Books, Historical and Modern, Collection
- Children’s Literature Research Collection Archives
- Children's Series Collection
- Folklore Collection
- Historical Bibliography Collection
- Kathrine H. McAlarney Collection of Illustrated Children’s Books
- Lloyd Alexander Collection
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Collection
- Toy and Moveable Book Collection
(Please note that this list is not exhaustive. More fact sheets coming soon!)
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:
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR SUPPORT
Are you creating a book for children? If so, the Booklists section above features lists of titles from the Free Library's circulating collection that authors and illustrators may find useful. The following templates can help with layout and formatting of a book. Each is sized to print on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper.
- 32-Page Picture Book Thumbnail Template (Landscape, 4:5 Ratio)
- 32-Page Picture Book Thumbnail Template (Portrait, 5:4 Ratio)
- 32-Page Picture Book Thumbnail Template (Square, 5:5 Ratio)
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.