Key Activities

The Center for Reading Research and Children's and Youth Media was set up in 1985. It emerged from a research project on the history of German children's literature initiated by Professor Theodor Brüggemann ( † 2006) in the 1970s. After his retirement the Center was directed by Professor Bettina Hurrelmann (1988-2008) and Professor Gisela Wilkending (1993-2007). Professor Otto Brunken is currently acting director.

The Center specializes in fundamental research on the history of children's literature and historical research on reading patterns, including girls' and women's reading; reading socialization; media research; and didactics of children's literature and the media.

The Center is part of Cologne University's German department (Institute for German Language and Literature II, Faculty of Arts), but has its own budget and staff. Staff members give lectures and seminars for students working for teaching degrees in primary and secondary education.

The Center houses a specialist library for historical and modern children's books and international research on children's literature, and a comprehensive collection of video and DVD films.