I've never been here until last week when I came here for the annual book fair (July 28-31, 2016), or as I call it, bookapalooza. This is a beautiful research library brimming with history. The book event was vast, with six rooms overflowing not only with books, but also CDs/DVDs, games, collectibles, and even typewriters for sale. When I needed a break from perusing the book-laden rooms I visited the gift shop on site. This is a great place to browse, with its selection of cards and all sorts of other bookish stuff for yourself or the reader in your life. The library is privately funded and has been open to the public since the 1880s. I'd like to return to take in the exhibition galleries as some of the exhibits look intriguing. read more

I have had the opportunity to visit this place twice now. The first time was for a corporate holiday party and once for a Yelp event. I have taken the Clark street bus past this place many times and i have always admired it from the outside. Now that I have had the chance to get inside of here I want to check it out during normal business hours. This is a beautiful building that can accommodate a good deal of people. The staff of the building that I have had to deal with have always been friendly and helpful. read more

A close friend of mine had her wedding reception here. It was just a lovely place to have a wedding celebration. Everything was elegant and classy! The bathrooms could use some updating but other than that, amazing. There was plenty of room on the dance floor and the tables were not on top of each other. The cocktail reception was held in the foyer of the library. There was a giant staircase that the newlyweds walked down and it was breathtaking. That could also be that my friend looked absolutely gorgeous on her wedding day! There is a tiny parking lot that holds 35 cars so we had to park at a garage downtown. I also heard the library is going to be open to the public sometime soon. I was very lucky to attend such a lovely wedding in the Newberry Library. Highly recommended if you are looking for a classy spot to hold a wedding reception. read more

Visited the "Creating Shakespeare" exhibition and it was amazing, better than The Folger Museum in Washington DC! The young black gal sitting at the front desk didn't even look up to greet us even though I said, "Good Morning!". She finally looked up when my husband asked where we were allowed to visit. She gave us quick directions and then went back to ignoring us. She gets one star but the museum gets five! read more

Newberry Library - The exhibit "Creating Shakespeare " - Libraries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Private library Green carpet, smelly old books Whoa, card catalogs?! The library made me want to write a haiku. My friend and I needed a quieter place to study from our review books other than a coffeeshop or a Barnes/Borders in the Gold Coast. Unfortunately, because it's a private library, you need an association to the library in order to study/research here (i.e., humanities). So we had to go through a check-in (must leave bags in lockers) and a sign-up process for a 1-day pass to the Reading Room. If we had a real intent to be there (i.e., read Latin books), we could get a 1-year pass. Not the place for what we needed. We took a lunch break and decided not to come back because of the hassle of having to put our bags back in the lockers and flashing our 1-day pass. Was here for the Yelp fashion show too and was able to see a different section of the library. Although Newberry Libarary is extremely pretty (what old libraries aren't?), it doesn't quite serve our purpose. read more

Since I checked in at the Newberry a few weeks ago, Yelp has been prodding me to review this famous Chicago Library. The Newberry is a humanities and social sciences research library. Its manuscript and rare books collections are amazing. The Ayer collection is one of the largest collections of Filipiniana in the United States, which is the number one attraction for me. The Newberry is also famous for its native american collections, and has one of the largest collections of early-modern maps in the world. For those of you who are not researchers, or likely to spend time in the rare books reading room, you might still be interested the what's on in the Newberry's exhibition space. The current exhibition "Home Front: Daily Life in the Civil War North," displays 100 items that reveal the experience of the Civil War beyond the battlefield. And the Newberry also has a fantastic bookstore, open during the Library's opening hours. Last, but not least, the building that houses the Newberry Library is a beautiful late nineteenth century Romanesque-Revival style building. From the Chicago Architecture Foundation: "The facade, centered on a triple-arched entrance, was inspired by the twelfth-century church of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard. The interior was conceived by the Newberry's first librarian, William F. Poole. An addition was made in 1981, by Harry Weese & Assocs." read more

This review pertains to the classes offered by the Newberry. I took my first class this winter and was extremely impressed. It was a 10-week course on James Joyce's Ulysses. We met once a week from 6-7:30 pm and the course cost only 210 dollars, which I thought was a great deal. I wasn't quite sure what to expect seeing as how this was my first class since college, but I was not disappointed. The teacher was a former professor and was excellent. The other students ranged in age from about early 20s to 70s, which made for interesting discussion. My only complaint is that the class probably could have been longer--either in number of sessions or length of class time--just because there was so much to discuss. The classrooms themselves are nothing fancy, but the library does provide AV equipment and such so that instructors can play videos, DVDs, music, or anything else they might need. I purchased my books for the class online, but you can buy books for classes at the Newberry bookstore. The library does close at 8, I believe, so if a teacher wants to run a class a little late, there's some wiggle room, but not much. All in all, I really enjoyed this class and am looking forward to taking another one. Side note: the annual book sale at the Newberry in July is great. I always come away with something. It's best to get there early, however. read more

I have booked my wedding for April 2010 long distance from California! I booked this location site unseen but had my parents take the photos that I have posted. Since that time, I have seen this lovely place in person. It is the perfect institutional charm that represents Chicago to me, and I'm honored that so many scholars have used this location for research as well. Hopefully my photos will help other brides. I have been extremely pleased with the calmness and quick response of the two Karens. The chairs and tables that come with the location are great. Included in the price is a parking lot for 35 cars, set up beginning at 3:30pm until midnight (!), a security guard, a coat check, and a room upstairs to relax before heading downstairs. Cocktails can be served in the foyer. The slidescreen that descends electrically from the ceiling (ceiling mounted projector) is the largest we have ever seen. They also bring you up a back elevator (bride/groom/bridal party) so you can be introduced and not run into your guests. The DJ and caterers have a separate elevator and area to stage the food, etc. Overall I highly recommend this venue! read more

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This place was referred to me about 8 years ago by one of my professors over at DePaul. If you have a book fetish like me this is the place to visit. That's all I'm saying. read more

This building is gorgeous, well maintained and a historic landmark to be enjoyed by all. It is one of the reasons I love my home town Chicago, and recently returned. I went to the book fair sale today and it was great fun! Nice to browse the well-organized sections. The staff was so nice, too! Really glad I went, and can't wait to go back to experience other things this wonderful institution has to offer. read more

Ruggles Hall is a beautiful space. Really. I went there the other day to check it out and was pleasantly surprised by the whimsical chandeliers... shiny wood floors... ultra high ceiling and silky sheer drapes over the huge windows that extended from ceiling to floor... A must see if you're venue shopping =) read more

I attended a wedding at the Newberry Library last weekend and it was beautiful! The space is truly incredible. Definitely worth a consideration if you're looking for a unique venue. The bride walked down the staircase in the main lobby (?) and it was stunning. Can't give it 5-stars since I've never actually used it as a library (or been in large portions of it), but wow what a venue... read more

Beautiful and intriguing library but the reception staff are completely unhelpful and unwelcoming, almost discouraging. We were new to this library and wanted a place to study. The reception staff suggested a tiny area on the first floor with 3 single-person desks. I had to ask again if there were other areas with larger tables and desks, as I had seen pictures of these online. He then mentioned there are, however that we need a "readers card" but didn't mention that it is free and takes 5 min to sign up for until I probed him some more....It was as if they didn't want us to visit. Cool library but just really odd vibes here. read more

I came here as a tourist on the free public tour, which they hold twice a week on Thursday and Saturday mornings. I really enjoyed the tour and I liked learning about the library, its history, and how to access the resources available in it today. Our tour guide, who actually was one of the people who works in event planning, was very welcoming and knowledgeable about the Newberry family, the library's origins, the history of its collections, and its availability to scholars today. She showed us the board room, the main reading rooms, and gave us a glimpse into the conservation lab. I was impressed by how she seemed to know the story behind every sculpture, map, and painting on display in the public reading room and hallways. I really liked how the tour guide emphasized the accessibility of the Newberry library, telling us how it is a private library that is still available to the public. All you need is a scholarly interest that can be explored in their archives in order to sign up for access to the library's materials. They are then brought to you from the archives to a reading room with all the tools necessary to examine whatever material you are looking at without damaging it. I think it's pretty incredible that anyone as long as they have a scholarly interest can view the items in their collection, which include one of Shakespeare's First Folios. They also had a really fascinating exhibit on the history of African-Americans in Chicago and their role in contemporary civil rights protests. I thought the exhibit was informative and particularly relevant in the current political climate. read more

Such an amazing library. I am truly sad that I live so far, as I would definitely frequent it otherwise. I visited as a tourist, and really enjoyed the architecture. I wish I'd been able to see all the rare books it holds as well. We visited the little gift shop inside, and it was pretty cute. They had a bunch of funny literary things, including Jane Austen-themed temporary tattoos, and Newberry tote bags that are great for any library-loving tourist/enthusiast. read more

Newberry Library - Gift shop items including Jane Austen tattoos - Libraries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Please understand two things: Firstly, this is not a part of the Chicago Public Library system, so don't go here looking for Ann Coulter audio books for your long drive to Branson, Missouri, and don't expect to return that DVD that you're too embarrassed to return to your neighborhood branch. Secondly, credit is due to those reviewers that point out that it is more than a venue for weddings, bar mitzvahs and the occasional gathering of fat cat bankers who like caviar and milky liqueurs. It's a research library, and a great space to sit, for free, and read. read more

A five-star library indeed. A place of pilgrimage for the book-loving and research-obsessed. There is a wonderful handout for 17th Century British Pamphlets which you most definitely need. Did I mention that I used to work there? Oh, and I made that handout? Whoops. Full-disclosure time. Anyway, this is a beautiful building full of beautiful books-- don't be afraid of the security desk or the cameras or the fact that all the books are tucked away in a building to which you won't have access. These are minor details. Go to Special Collections and page the very first Oscar ever awarded for screenwriting, or the book made of human skin (mwah-ha-ha), or the very very tiny books, or the very very large books. Go to General Collections and research genealogy (I would never recommend this if I still worked there, but as I no longer have to page the Pennsylvania Archives or figure out the location of a particular issue of the Illinois Staats-Zeitung, then I say go for it! Sorry GRR ladies). Impress your friends and neighbors with your newly discovered lineage (maybe you're related to the King of Spain or Liberace or Lindsay Lohan-- you'll never know until you look) and a new appreciation of heraldic vocubulary. Argent! Rampant! Bend Sinister! Field of Azure! Also, check out the huge number of free events which will make you feel culturally superior, the great classes you can take to better yourself and the famous Book Fair and Bughouse Square Debates in the summer. You're smart enough for the likes of them. read more

Took one of the guided tours. Very interesting. Nice little gem not far from Michigan Avenue. Great resource for serious scholars as well as casual researchers. Open to the public with reader card. Collection catalog is available on line. Also has extensive paintings and maps in their collection read more

A little back-story is in order first. We spent three weeks looking at 11 different wedding venues - from loft spaces to ballrooms, north side to West Loop - and while we had found a few that we liked, the costs were simply prohibitive for the wedding we were looking to have. The Newberry is one that we glossed over initially due to what seemed like a very high price tag. I was frantically browsing wedding website forums for inspiration, and saw multiple people talking about the Newberry as an affordable option. What we didn't realize is that the Newberry gives a choice of caterers, all of which are BYOB for liquor. When we added up the costs that would be associated with throwing a wedding, the Newberry came out in our price range. Karen, who runs the Newberry, was simply a joy to work with. From the beginning, she was extremely responsive in communicating back and forth with us whenever we had questions, and worked well with all of our vendors who needed to interface with her leading up to the wedding. She also let us store a lot of our decorations and ceremonial materials in her office the week before the wedding, which gave us one less thing to worry about during the wedding weekend. As a venue itself, the Newberry is stunning. We held our ceremony in the lobby, with the two of us entering down the beautiful marble staircase. The Newberry has a grand piano, which we were able to use to provide music during the ceremony, and it really added to the ambiance of the environment. Following the ceremony, we took a group photo outside to enable the staff to flip the room over to the cocktail hour setup before moving over to the reception hall. Karen let us use an old library card catalog as a display piece for our place-card table, which looked great and fit very well with our card catalog-style place-cards! The hall barely needs any additional decoration, with its dark wood paneling and unique chandeliers providing a wonderful atmosphere themselves. The Newberry also provided us with two very sturdy chairs that had handles, as we were lifted on them during the Hora. Having been to many other weddings where the chairs used for the Hora did not have handles, let me say that we were very glad to have something to hold on to! Karen was present the entire night, and really helped ensure that our wedding was everything we had hoped it would be. We highly recommend the Newberry as a wedding venue! read more

A great place to read madness inducing grimoires that are over a hundred years old.

This is a review for the event space at the Newberry Library. I held my December 2013 wedding at the Newberry and had an amazing experience. From the beginning, the staff was professional, courteous & quick to respond to any questions. I had a hard time deciding where to host our reception so I brought multiple friends/family members to look at the space and was courteously accommodated each time. Also, this was a BYOB event space (not sure of its status currently as I heard this might be changing) which was the tipping point for us. We easily saved ourselves thousands of dollars by not being forced into an overpriced liquor package (I'm talking about you Cafe Brauer). The space is beautiful and cozy - the staff puts lights in all of the windows, lining the hallway between the lobby to Ruggles and in Ruggles hall. All of their work decorating is included in the cost of the rental fee, which is in line with its competition. The chandeliers in the lobby & Ruggles hall are metal with old-time lightbulbs (exposed filaments). It gives the entire space the feeling of being somewhat vintage but still classy & elegant. We took our family formal photos on the marble staircase in the lobby - I cannot wait to see how they turn out. We had about 150 guests, which was comfortable but we definitely could've fit more. I believe the space holds just over 200. The dance floor was situated between the pillars and was definitely big enough to hold all of my guests. Bonus for having hard wood floors, which meant we didn't have to pay to put in a dance floor. I also cannot say enough good things about the staff of the Newberry. Although many of my guests showed up 30 minutes early to my reception, they were greeted politely and allowed to hang out in the lobby/cocktail area while final preparations were made. After the votive candles from the florist started small fires on my tables, the Newberry jumped into action and replaced hundreds of votives with their own stock. I cannot thank Adam & Karen (the event coordinators) enough for everything they did to make our day a huge success. Overall, an amazing experience with professional, kind & helpful staff. Would absolutely recommend to anyone. read more

I have to review the event space in the Newberry Library, but not the actual library section. I have been scouting out places for my wedding and went to look at the Newberry Library. They have a beautiful staircase as soon as you walk in that would be perfect for pictures, and is a nice backdrop for a cocktail hour. Then you move into the main room for the event and it really is gorgeous. The hardwood floors and paneling on the walls are so pretty and you could do anything you wanted with it - you could bring in any colors and it would look great. It would be a beautiful spot for a wedding or small gathering. read more

I love this library! I'd move to Chicago just to visit here more often. My first (and only, so far) trip to the Newberry library was May 11 2010. I didn't know what to expect. I stayed at a nearby hotel (Sofitel) and thought maybe I should get there early in case there is a line. I walked 2-3 blocks only find out there was only a handful of us visitors there. Right off the bat the security guard was friendly and told me about the lockers and signing in. He took my id while I got settled and had my card waiting for me. One gets a library card for a week. I asked a worker directions and he rode up the elevator with me, and walked me to a the desk. I checked in there. I was at the Newberry to look at old Chicago newspapers and directories on microfilm. I got a cube with a reader right next to file cabinet. It couldn't get any easier. I pulled my own film boxes and returned them. I found two missing ancestors, after searching for them for 10 years. That makes it worth the trip right there! I left for lunch. The security guard looks in your bag and you sign out. After lunch I attempted to do a look up for a friend looking for some German relatives. The book I thought might be there wasn't, but a kind librarian wrote down the name of the book and the name of the library in Indiana that has it, and how to order the info/lookup. Pretty much everyone was nice here, expect one, not a bad odds. The library is more laid back and more simple than one might think after reading the website. The website makes it seem more complicated to research there, but it's not, it's just like your local library only with tons more stuff. I can't imagine a library better than this. Keep in mind it's not a Chicago Public Library. I can't wait to go back next May. read more

I love going to this library for the annual booksale. I love the entire look of the venue. When I got engaged, I decided to check out the space as a possible venue. It's gorgeous but the bathrooms were terrible. I was not very excited with the wedding coordinator who left our meeting three times to set up for an event that night. read more

I can't recommend this place as an actual library, but it's a great place to hold a wedding! There's a nice room where they had the ceremony and dinner/dancing, but the real star of the place is the entrance hall where we had cocktails. It's a gorgeous space and really made the wedding special. read more

We got married at the Newberry Library in September and have nothing but wonderful things to say about the facility and the staff. The lobby and Ruggles Hall are gorgeous and make a beautiful backdrop for a wedding. The location can't be beat. And Karen Aubrey and Adam Mayberry are a pleasure to work with - they are both incredibly responsive, professional, and know what they are doing. This is also one of the few venues in the city that allows you to buy your own alcohol for events as well as hire any vendors you please. I saved a lot of money by going to Binny's and shopping around for caterers instead of being forced to choose between the most expensive caterers in the city like many other downtown venues. The entire experience was fantastic and I have so many wonderful memories from my wedding there! read more

i went to a wedding here on Saturday night. flawless. i can't imagine it's cheap, but it was AWESOME. read more

I've been to the library just to peruse the aisles and it's very EXTENSIVE. The map collections are very awesome! But ... I'm mostly writing this review about our wedding. We held our reception at The Newberry in June 2012 and I couldn't be happier with everything. Karen helped us so much by answering all our last minute questions as well as being there on the day of our wedding to make sure everything went smoothly. She also helped to make sure we were ready for the rehearsal. The venue is so beautiful you really don't need many decorations, if you don't want them. We were trying to scale back on our spending and although the price is a bit steep to rent the Newberry, I was so glad we didn't have to do much in terms of "sprucing up" the place. We had small centerpieces and a party of less than 100 people and the room looked full and beautiful. We just got our wedding proofs back and it reminded me to write this review and let everyone know how great Newberry is if you are searching for a place to hold your wedding and/or reception. Oh and the table and chairs are INCLUDED with the rental!! Who wants to RENT tables and chairs? This definitely helped cutdown on the catering/rental costs! read more

This is a review of the library as an event space - I was married at the Newberry Library on Dec 12. Yes, the Newberry has a fairly expensive rental fee. However, there are many reasons that it is worth it. 1. You can have both the ceremony and the reception in one location. 2. You can buy alcohol through Binnys and have your caterer serve it 3. The two event planners (both named Karen) are very helpful. They provide recommendations of other vendors - which is very helpful considering that they see so many weddings and vendors. 4. One of the Karens will play the harp for your ceremony/cocktail hour for a small fee. 5. All of the other nice, downtown Chicago event locations are this expensive and do not have #s 1-4 The only difficult thing is that since it is a functioning library, you can't take pictures on the staircase and in the lobby much before the ceremony. You are sequestered in the upstairs rooms. Also, I was curious about rehearsals when I read reviews. We were able to have one from 4-5 on Friday. However, we did get married during the off season. I'm not sure what they do when weddings are booked for both Friday and Saturday nights in the summer. read more

Paul and I were married in the Foyer and had our dinner reception in Ruggles Hall November 2011. It was a Dream come true. All of our guests told us it was the most elegant wedding they had ever been to. The building is absolutely spectacular. It is well maintained. The Newberry Library adds to the long list of Architecturally interesting buildings in chicago. It requires very little in the way of decorating except a few votive candles which the library staff takes care of. The Staff basically takes care of everything. The venue has everything you need, a full kitchen, a baby grand piano and an area upstairs where the wedding party can change. They do not have the lighting or electricity to allow makeup or hair to be done there, but this is a small price to pay to have this back drop for your wedding or reception. When we hired vendors for the wedding and the found out it was at the Newberry Library, they were absolutely thrilled. The vendors loved this venue and the staff there. It is no suprise to us now why this venue is reserved so far in advance. If you are looking for elegance, charm and old style architectural beauty, then The Newberry Library is your venue. read more

My affection for this place begins with its beautiful architecture and unbelievable collection of books, cartography etc, but really it's the people that you run into here that make the place. The librarians and people who work behind the scenes are all so lovely and nice. I've just come to Chicago for this place. Okay, maybe I came for other reasons too, but this library is golden. I love, love it. Go here and be intellectually stimulated. read more

This is truly a Chicago treasure that many residents are not aware of. Very interesting programming and Free! I went to a lecture the other day that was followed by complimentary food and libations, I will return. read more

This is an amazingly beautiful building, with an amazing mission. I love the idea of this freestanding, privately run research library, a "home for the humanities" as the library itself puts it. I cannot wait to get more involved with this place and organization. read more

The bookfair last week was so lame I actually nearly cried because I had been so excited. I admit, I went on Saturday but this was very over-hyped. The used books were mainly of the creepy variety, mildew smelling and not one book from my "I want this book" list was available. I LOVE used book stores, was prepared to spend at least $100 on $4 books, but I left empty handed. read more

The Newberry Library was one of the first wedding venues I saw so while I loved the space and the location, I didn't realize what a great value it was until I saw other venues around the city (Cafe Brauer, Nature Museum, Union Station, loft spaces, hotels etc). The Newberry is the best deal in town and comes with rich history, a beautiful space that you don't need to do anything to, fantastic location in the city and really wonderful people to work with. They own their own tables and chairs so that is a big cost saver right there! We could not have been happier with our wedding at the Newberry - Karen and Chayla took such great care of us - they were there to answer any questions throughout the process and were there the day of to help coordinate with our caterer and other vendors. We held our ceremony in the park in front, followed by cocktails in the lobby with that beautiful staircase and then dinner in Ruggles hall. From beginning to end, it was the perfect day. I would HIGHLY recommend getting married at the Newberry, it is such a special place and all our guests absolutely loved it as well. read more

I finally made a visit to their yearly July book fair and it was fantastic! Well organized, packed full of books, and great prices. It's like all the good parts of the Printer's Row Book Fair and none of the bad (like expensive new books, way too many people, and the outdoors). What is was, was 5 rooms of organized books lined up and divided into categories, all priced, and a smooth check out process. Definitely worth a trip! read more

Nice library. Good place to go to study. I would not reccomend it for books though. It seems to never have the books I need, or else everything is checked out. read more

I have been to the Newberry on so many occasions. I visited on a class field trip more than once, I came on my own to study for finals...more than once, I even volunteered there. The librarians and staff were very helpful and I always enjoyed the exhibitions! I think they have an orignial postcard from Jack Kereouac when he was about to write On The Road... read more

Just visiting so nothing too specific - very beautiful building. There is an exhibit that focuses on African Americans in Chicago from the Civil War to today, it is quite well done. Free and easy to visit this. read more

I went to see the Newberry space yesterday as a possible wedding ceremony and reception venue and really liked it. We think we will have 200-210 people, and the staff said we would fit fine in Ruggles. We want to make sure there's plenty of space for a dance floor. If you've been to a wedding there, please let me know how many guests there were and whether there was a dance floor. read more