Children’s Libraries in the United States

Children’s libraries in the U.S. context consist of specialized collections, services, staff, and spaces designed to meet the literacy, personal development, and community learning needs of children and adolescents. Usually existing within the publicly sourced operating budget and space of schools and public libraries, the services offered by children’s libraries can vary between communities depending on their needs, but almost universally include a lending collection of curated, developmentally appropriate books and media for children and teenagers, as well as literacy-based programs for children, teenagers, and families. The history of children’s libraries is closely tied to that of children’s publishing as well as to [Page 465]progressive education reform in the United States. This entry examines the early history of children’s libraries in the United States, their ...