The Newberry is a private, non-profit, independent research library, free and open to the public, with a collection available to scholars, genealogists, and lifelong learners alike. Anyone who is at least 14 years old can sign up for a reader’s card. The Newberry's non-circulating collection includes 1.6 million books, 5 million manuscript pages, and 600,000 maps that we continually preserve, augment, and make accessible in a variety of ways.

Beyond our reading rooms, the Newberry provides learning opportunities for the intellectually curious through free exhibitions and public programs that include lectures, panel discussions, and theatrical and dance performances.