Abstract
One of several independent research libraries in the United States, the Newberry Library in Chicago, which is over 100 years old and has about 100 fte staff, has nationally significant collections in history, the humanities and music. Four special collections, each accompanied by an endowment for continuing acquisition, stand out: the Ayer Collection, now comprising more than 100,000 volumes, on early contacts between the Indian and the white man; the Greenlee Collection on Portuguese and Brazilian history; the Graff Collection on the American West; and the Wing Collection on the art of printing and graphic design. The library has pioneered in the field of preservation, and its Conservation Department presents training sessions and public programmes on the care of personal libraries and book handling. Access to the collections is gradually being automated, and a wide range of services and programmes for diverse audiences is offered. Its academic and educational programmes have made it a centre for advanced study in the humanities. Adult education seminars are held regularly, enrolling nearly 2,000 people.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.