CCBC History

Poster showing photos of the CCBC locations over the years
Poster designed by Lily Zyndorf Shell

The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) opened its doors in June, 1963, but the idea for a statewide children’s and young adult literature center in Wisconsin began in the early 1960s. Planning was led by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission (the precursor of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Division for Libraries and Technology). The  UW-Madison School of Education and Library School became part of the vision for a library that would serve preservice and practicing librarians and teachers across the state. (Today the CCBC is a library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and receives annual support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Division for Libraries and Technology.)

From the beginning, this noncirculating children’s and young adult literature library for adults combined hands-on book examination of children’s and young adult literature with education and outreach on books for youth and related issues.

Some CCBC services and collections have changed across the years, as have some methods of delivery, but the CCBC’s commitment to providing preservice and practicing librarians and teachers in Wisconsin with opportunities to see new books for youth, find out about high quality children’s and young adult literature, and engage around issues related to literature for children and teens, remains constant.

To find out more about the history of the CCBC, check out the videos below:

Inside the CCBC (2021, 60 minutes): CCBC librarians Merri Lindgren and Megan Schliesman looked at CCBC programs and services, finding common themes across the decades, in this session for the Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries 2021 Conference.


Introduction to the CCBC
(1980, 16 minutes): This slide-tape presentation (converted to video) is a gem from the past that looks at the CCBC’s history, resources, and services.


CCBC Oral History Interview with Elizabeth Burr
(c1974, 48 minutes): Elizabeth Burr was one of the CCBC’s founders in her work with the Wisconsin Free Library Commission and its later iterations; she served as the first CCBC librarian in her role at the state. (More about Elizabeth Burr)