Center for Children's Literature
Scope and Contents
The Bureau of Educational Experiments had a small informal library which served primarily as a meeting place. Shortly after John Niemeyer became president, Bank Street’s first librarian Claire Clemmons was hired. The collection was expanded and procedures were formalized in an effort to gain accreditation.
Dates
- Creation: 1916 - 2011
Creator
- From the Record Group: Bureau of Educational Experiments (Organization)
- From the Record Group: Coolidge, Elizabeth Sprague, 1864-1953 (Person)
- From the Record Group: Mitchell, Lucy Sprague, 1878-1967 (Lead, Person)
- From the Record Group: Niemeyer, John H. (Lead, Person)
Biographical / Historical
The Center for Children’s Literature was founded in 2007 with the mission of creating, identifying and advocating for the highest quality literature for all children from infant to adolescence.
From the director: “Through its efforts we enforce the principle to parents, educators, caregivers and policy makers that great literature in which all children can see themselves and their life experiences reflected is fundamental to literacy.”
The center was originally housed in Institutional Advancement (now called DARO) before moving to the Library in 2011. The directors have been Lisa Von Drasek, Jenny Brown, and currently Dr. Cynthia Weill. In 2024, the Center received an endowment from former trustee, Arlene Mark. A campaign takes place annually to raise more funds to add to this bequest.
The components of the center are:
- The Children’s Book Committee (founded in 1909)
- Irma Simonton & James H. Black Award (established 1972)
- The Cook Prize (established 2012)
- BookFest @ Bank Street (originally founded at Columbia University in 1971)
- The Writers Lab (founded in 1937)
- Writer-in-Residence (established in 2015)
- Biennial, Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award & List
- Biennial, Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award & List (established 2023)
- Writing for Children Courses
- Spring MiniFest
- Graduate Fellow (established 2022)
Full Extent
From the Record Group: 10 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Sub-Group: English
Repository Details
Part of the Bank Street College Archives Repository
Bank Street College Library
610 West 112th Street
New York NY 10520
212-875-4455
libraryarchives@bankstreet.edu