Most of the Newberry’s materials are stored in its bookstacks, which are not open for browsing. Upon request, staff members will retrieve specific items from the stacks building, and deliver them to readers in the reading rooms. To find items in the collections, search the Catalogs and Guides.

In order to access the reading rooms, readers must present a reader’s card and sign in to the reading room register. Signing in to the room implies agreement with the Newberry’s reading room policies. Seats in the reading rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Special Collections reading room has just 17 tables, and these tend to fill up quickly during the summer months and during times when conferences are in town, so it is best to arrive early in the day if possible. During busy periods any materials left unattended in the Special Collections reading room for 15 minutes will be removed from the table and the table will be assigned to another reader. 

Reading Room Schedule, Tuesday through Friday

9 am until noon: Reading Rooms open at 9 am. Items may be requested from 9 am until noon.

Noon until 1 pm: Circulation stops between noon and 1 pm. You are welcome to remain in the reading rooms and work with materials you already have, but no additional items will be retrieved during this hour.

1 pm until 4 pm: Items may be requested from 1 pm until 4 pm.

3 pm: Photocopy requests placed after 3 pm will not be completed until the following day.

4 pm: Circulation stops for the day. You are welcome to remain in the reading rooms and work with materials you already have, but no additional items will be retrieved during this hour.

4:30 pm: Vault materials must be returned to the Special Collections circulation desk.

4:45 pm: The first warning bell rings at 4:45 pm. Please wrap up your research and start organizing materials for return. If you would like to place materials on reserve, please return them and complete the reserve forms at this time.

4:50 pm: All materials must be returned to the circulation desks.

4:55 pm: The final warning bell rings at 4:55 pm. Please leave the computers, microfilm areas, and study tables and return your seat assignment cards to the circulation desk.

5 pm: Reading Rooms are closed.

Reading Room Schedule, Saturday

9 am until noon: Reading Rooms open at 9 am. Items may be requested from 9 am until noon.

11 am: Photocopy orders placed after 11 am will not be completed until the following Tuesday.

Noon: Circulation ends for the day at noon. You are welcome to remain in the reading rooms and work with materials you already have, but no additional items will be retrieved during this hour.

12:30 pm: Vault items must be returned to the Special Collections circulation desk.

12:45 pm: The first warning bell rings at 12:45 pm. Please wrap up your research and start organizing materials for return. If you would like to place materials on reserve, please return them and complete the reserve forms at this time.

12:50 pm: All materials must be returned to the circulation desks.

12:55 pm: The final warning bell rings at 12:55 pm. Please leave the computers, microfilm areas, and study tables and return your seat assignment cards to the circulation desk.

1 pm: Reading Rooms are closed.

Requesting Items

After identifying relevant items, readers may use yellow call slips to request materials from the bookstack building. One call slip is required for each item. (You may use a single call slip for multiple volumes with the same call number.) The reading room staff and reference librarians can help you through the call slip process, as needed.  Call slips may be submitted from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm, Tuesday through Friday. On Saturdays, call slips may be submitted from 9 am to 12 pm. Call slips for General Collections items should be submitted to the second floor reading room. Call slips for Special Collections items should be submitted to the fourth floor reading room.

Delivery time ranges from 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the number of other requests pending. We regret that we cannot accept requests in advance of your visit. We do, however, welcome advance notice of your visit, and if you Contact a Librarian we would be happy to verify the availability of items for you.

Occasionally we are unable to bring out vellum or parchment materials due to unstable environmental conditions. For more information on our vellum handling practices, please see Reading Room Policies.

Using Manuscripts

Most of the Newberry’s manuscripts are housed in the Roger & Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections. Readers interested in viewing manuscripts must fill out a “Use of Manuscripts” form (available in the Reference Center or in Special Collections).

Appointments are required for unprocessed collections. Please note that some collections may be closed due to processing. Contact a Librarian if you have any questions about the Newberry’s manuscript collections.

Placing Items on Reserve

Both reading rooms can hold items on reserve for you for up to two weeks. Reserve requests are not accepted in advance of your visit. Please talk to the reading room staff about the reserve process when you are at the Newberry.

Open Shelves

Some items are stored on the “open shelves” in the reading rooms and reference center. Readers may browse the open shelves and remove items from the shelves as needed. Please return books to the reading room staff; they will re-shelve the books for you. Open shelf call numbers have the following prefixes or location notes:

• Ref: located in the Blatchford Reference & Bibliographical Center (third floor); for example: Ref BX841 .N44 2003
• Local History Ref: located in the General Collections Regenstein Reading Room (second floor); for example: Local History Ref F548.25 .D86 2005
• Chicago Browsing: located in the General Collections Regenstein Reading Room (second floor); for example: Chicago Browsing HA730.C5 L63 1995
• Case Ref: located in the Roger & Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections (fourth floor)
• Map Ref: located in the Roger & Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections (fourth floor)

Using Microfilm and Microfiche

Some of the Newberry’s microfilm and microfiche items are stored in drawers in the General Collections Regenstein Reading Room. By and large, these items relate to local and family history research. Readers may help themselves to these films; kindly return them to their places when you are finished. If you have any questions about the open shelf microforms, please visit with the Local & Family History Reference Librarian on the second floor.

For more information about rules, security and conduct, and the digital camera policy, please access Reading Room Policies. For photoduplication services, see Rights and Reproductions. Please Contact a Librarian if you have any questions.