Reflections from the Beinecke LibraryJuly 21, 2026The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University needs to be seen, whether in person or in picture, for its beauty and marvel to be believed. Among the many treasures I uncovered during my visit to the Beinecke were holographs, correspondence, manuscript drafts, and a delightful amount of marginalia—a particular speciality of children’s literature. Thus far, I have relied on digital library collections to do so, but working in the Beinecke granted me access to hundreds of physical texts. Her thesis examines the development of Irish American children’s literature (1850-1940). She holds an M.Phil in Children’s Literature with Distinction from TCD, and is a qualified elementary school teacher and published children’s author.