The Helen H. Lyman collection is divided into four series:

I is biographical and personal information that includes Lyman's genealogical work on the Huguenor family as well as the handwritten notes that was the beginnings of her autobiography, "My Life."

II is Lyman's professional work with the American Libraries Association (ALA), the Buffalo Public Library (today the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library), conferences, workshops. Also included is the Library Materials Research Project (LMRP) produced for the Office of Libraries and Learning Technologies at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and many of Lyman's published works including Reading and the New Adult Reader and Adult Services: Vision and Performance.

III is Lyman's outline and syllabi for courses taught at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison Library School from 1966-1977 and the University at Buffalo, 1977-1998. Lyman was Professor Emerita at both of these institutions.

IV is collected materials and notes on gathered research in the field of adult literacy. Throughout her life, Lyman actively collected source information on different aspects of adult learning in public libraries.