About the Pennsylvania
Center for the Book

2. The Literary and Cultural Heritage Maps of Pennsylvania. The Center maintains five digital maps featuring short biographies and articles highlighting Pennsylvania’s literary and cultural heritage. 

3. Teaching materials. The Center provides research-based resources and lesson plans for a variety of audiences to support Pennsylvania and national core curriculum.  

4. Outreach. The Center connects with Pennsylvania readers, authors, libraries, and other related organizations to promote Pennsylvania authors and Pennsylvania based books throughout the Commonwealth.

On October 13, 1977, Congress established the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress to celebrate and promote reading across the country. In 1984, the Center for the Book began establishing Affiliate Centers in each of the 50 states, including the Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Until 1994, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book was located at the State Library of Pennsylvania. 

On January 1, 2000, after a six-year hiatus, Steven Herb, the Head of the Education and Behavioral Sciences Library at the Penn State University Libraries, re-established the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and moved it to the Penn State University Libraries. The Pennsylvania Center for the Book celebrated its 25th anniversary at Penn State in 2025.   

All 50 states and six U.S. territories, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Marianas, have an Affiliated Center for the Book. Each Center is dedicated to celebrating and promoting their state or territories’ literary heritage.