Archives are collected to document the process of children’s book creation by authors and illustrators in collaboration with agents, editors, designers and publishers.
The NCLC holds the papers of Dr. Butler and the large number of audiovisual materials created in her classroom.
Many of the greatest names in children's literature, including Maurice Sendak and Big Bird, visited the popular Butler “kiddie lit” classes.
Significant holdings include the archives of Natalie Babbitt, Barbara Cooney, Tomie dePaola, Leonard Everett Fisher, Ruth Krauss, James Marshall, Richard Scarry, Marc Simont, Esphyr Slobodkina, Joseph A. Smith, Cyndy Szekeres, Leonard Weisgard, Hans Wilhelm, and Ed Young among others.
The NCLC also adds works that complement existing holdings and contemporary books that have won major national or international awards in approximately 60 categories such as the: