Please help us maintain a safe learning environment by:

• Wearing a face mask at all times (double masking encouraged)
• Keeping a distance of at least six feet from others
• Staying home if you are sick (or have been in contact with someone who is sick) and visiting us another time

In compliance with an emergency travel order issued by the Chicago Department of Public Health, visitors arriving from outside Illinois must take certain safety measures before visiting the Newberry.

Learn more and plan your visit by reading our FAQ for visitors below:

FAQ

How is the Newberry prioritizing the health and safety of staff and visitors?

Following guidelines from public health officials, we’ve suspended all in-person programs and events that might make social distancing difficult if not impossible. These programs have moved online and will continue to be held virtually.

To ensure visitors are able to practice social distancing in the library, we’re providing access to the reading rooms by appointment only and limiting entry into the exhibition galleries.

High-touch surfaces and equipment are being cleaned regularly, and the entire building is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected each evening.

In addition, visitors, researchers, and staff are required to wear a face mask at all times; hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the building; reading room staff are quarantining collection items after use; and signage across the library communicates and reinforces key messages promoting safety.

Are the reading rooms open for research?

Yes, the reading rooms are open to researchers by appointment Tuesday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. Please submit your appointment request online at least five business days in advance of your visit. Due to capacity limits, we may not be able to accommodate all appointment requests, but we’ll do our best. Anyone who is at least 14 years old and curious about the humanities is invited to use our collection.

Are any exhibitions open at the Newberry?

Yes! From the Stacks, a rotating display of treasures from the Newberry collection, is on display from March 2 – May 21. ¡Viva la Libertad! Latin America and the Age of Revolutions will open April 2. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday, noon – 4 pm. (The Newberry’s Rosenberg Bookshop is also open during these hours.)

What do I need to know about visiting for an exhibition?

Appointments are not required, but please sign in with us in the lobby when you arrive so we can manage entry into the galleries and ensure social distancing. Capacity in the galleries is limited.

What about public programs, adult education seminars, and other programming?

For now, all programs for students, teachers, scholars, and the public will continue to be held virtually. View our calendar of programs to see what’s coming up next.

The winter/spring term of our Adult Education Seminars is also taking place online. Registration is now open. Browse the schedule of classes.

Do I really have to wear a mask at all times at the library?

Yes. Visitors and researchers without masks will not be admitted to the library. Masks must be worn while you’re anywhere inside the library.