Newberry library Reviews

The Newberry is taking their responsibilities for covid precautions VERY seriously and are even more cautious than extremely careful hospitals. You must make an online reservation for a reading visit several days in advance and specify what you would like to use so they can have the materials and a chosen reading spot all set up for you. (Their online catalogue is extremely good.)

They have an incredible air filtration system that in previous years made the Newberry the one place my airborne allergies would never bother me; now that system is running full tilt. They have a lovely self serve locker room, and their new (and as always, immaculate) bathrooms make me feel as if I was suddenly in a high class hotel. When the pandemic is over, I am certain they will reopen the small coffee area on the first floor, a welcome spot for a bit of repose and one s bagged lunch. It will also be nice when they can turn on their water drinking fountains again. To protect the books and materials, no food or water are ever allowed in the reading rooms, a reasonable if slightly inconvenient precaution.

I have been using the Newberry occasionally for a few decades. They have always been very polite, helpful, and of course extremely knowledgeable. Their reading rooms are a wonderful oasis of quiet. Being a closed stack library, you can t wander through the books nor take them home, but this means the collection is always accessible. The range and depth of their collections are staggering. Their exhibits are always interesting, and their online offerings this last year have been engaging.

With the Art Institute s Library still closed, the Newberry has been a vital resource for my reading and research. Also, one is allowed to download for free articles from a vast range of online publications one would have to pay serious money if accessing on one s own from home. This service adds to the strength of the Newberry s already staggering collections. I have always felt the Newberry is a vital resource for our area and recommend it highly.

Spent a day here doing genealogy and it was great. Spacious, well-staffed, amazing collection of materials.

Excellent resource for genealogy research at a convenient location in downtown Chicago, with easy access by el, bus or car. Very helpful staff. Open at convenient times, public and no fees. Collection also extends beyond genealogy in several areas.

Chayla and Martina were our contacts at the Newberry Library when planning our wedding, and they were such great resources during the planning process. Having booked our venue in December of 2020, we had to navigate around a lot of changes and regulations with the city when it came to events. Chayla and Martina always used transparency and worked with us to give us the event we dreamed of. The venue was decorated beautifully, and they helped to relieve so much stress on the day of the wedding by helping to organize and arrange all of the vendors.

The Newberry Library offers the classic book lover's collection from vintage manuscripts, scrolls, ancient maps, archeological treasures, book binders' secrets, and many cultural events open to the public. Visit the Newberry Library for additional information. You can even trace your ancestry through the Genealogy Research Center.

Wonderful way to spend the afternoon . This is the coolest free activity around. Hundreds of subjects to explore and the staff was very helpful. We even looked at a 1612 spell book. We are tourists in the city and this felt like a hidden gem

Great library! & Great place to do your research. Read rare books.
Restrooms.
Drinking Fountain.
WiFi.

i have visited here 2-3 times to find something interesting books and each time i was happy with the experience i had. The library was amazing and the atmosphere was very calm and positive. They displayed all the stuff very well. Must recommended place for readers

I dropped by Newberry Library randomly one day a while back. Unforgettable experience.

I was not allowed past the receptionists/help desk. Both the receptionist and the security guard questioned me about what I needed to research, the security guard blocking my path up the stairs as I walked in. When I offered that I was looking into Native American history, the receptionist told me that she didn't believe they had any literature on that.

A research library. In America. Didn't have any literature on Native American history. None.

I was put through so much rigamarole, including being made to call the help desk on the third floor from a phone across from the receptionist desk, just to have another person tell me they didn't carry that content.

Absolutely humiliating.

I should mention that I am both a professional and a student in research. My colleagues and fellow students had suggested I try this library for research on genealogy.

Needless to say, no one in my circle suggested Newberry Library again and neither will I.

The Newberry Library is currently under construction. However, the Genealogy Research Program is available to the public upon request Visit The Newberry Library for more information.