It is mainly by donation that this nationally recognized collection grows and thrives. Noteworthy collections are welcome. For a complete description of the collection development guidelines, click here. Anyone interested in joining our family of donors should contact the curator.

The holdings of the NCLC are augmented in several ways:

- by adding manuscript collections donated by the authors, illustrators, teachers, publishers, and others involved in children's literature;

- by adding collections of books and other published materials;

- by the financial generosity of donors who supplement the endowment funds that support the Collection and the travel/research grants.