The Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature at the University of Minnesota Libraries stands at the forefront of children’s literature archives worldwide.
https://kerlan.umn.edu/ Part of the Elmer L. Andersen Special Collections, The Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature is an archive for manuscripts, illustrations, books, and much much more. We offer a number of events and lectures year-round, many of which are free and open to the public. All the material is accessible to anyone, but use by readers is confined to the reading room, where atten
06/16/2026
Snapshot from the Kerlan: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, illustrated by E.H. Shepard. While the Kerlan doesn't hold any original Pooh art, it is home to other sketches and drawings by E.H. Shepard — including this original pencil sketch, possibly done as a concept sketch for "When We Were Very Young" by Milne.
06/16/2026
06/15/2026
In memoriam: Jane Yolen, February 11, 1939 – June 11, 2026.
Jane Yolen was a beloved and award-winning children’s book author and 1988 recipient of the Kerlan Award. The Kerlan holds an extensive collection of her works, including production material for over 200 books.
05/18/2026
05/06/2026
Join us at Elmer L. Andersen or online on June 5 for the final First Fridays archival talk of the 2025-26 season! Lisa Von Drasek, Miranker Family Curatorial Chair of the Kerlan Collection, will examine the portrayal of indigenous characters in children’s literature—and how these illustrations have changed in contemporary publications.
Learn more & register: https://libnews.umn.edu/event/first-fridays-june-2026/
| Monday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 4:30pm |
| Friday | 9am - 4:30pm |