Advice
Newberry Library
The Newberry <www.newberry.org> can be intimidating,
especially if you don't know what to expect. So, for
out-of-towners and anyone else who hasn't been there yet I offer
the following.
TRANSPORTATION There are parking garages in the area - but not
cheap. On Saturdays they have an "early bird" special in by 10
and out by 6 will cost you $7.50. The minimum rate is $5.50 for
the first 1/2 hour. The library has a deal with a lot on
Chestnut and will validate your ticket. This will give you a
better rate, but is only for 5-6 hours. I don't have the details
on this but a call to the Newberry ahead of time will solve
that. There are also a small number of parking meters for street
parking, but you'll have to run down every couple of hours to
feed the meter. You might find public transportation a good
alternative. The Newberry can provide the bus routes, if it is
not on the web site try e-mailing them.
SECURITY When you enter the lobby, there is a security desk
front and center. To your left is a coat room with lockers. You
will not be allowed to carry in coats, bags, briefcases, etc.
Put them in a locker and carry your notebooks, computers, etc.
The locker will cost a quarter, which will be returned to you
when you open it back up. Go back to the security guard and tell
him you need an application for a reader's card and sign in for
the 2nd and 3rd floors. You will need a photo id to get the
reader's card - like a driver's licence. Once he buzzed you
through head left to the elevators and go to the 3rd floor.
On the third floor, fill out the application and turn it in at
the desk. They will give you a readers card. They will also ask
for a donation. This is voluntary. You decide if and how much. I
will only offer that this is not a public library and receives
no tax support. It was created out of the estate of a wealthy
man in the 1880s.
CARD CATALOG On the third floor you will find 2 separate
catalogs. You must check them both. The bulk of the collection -
items acquired before 1980 - is on the traditional paper cards
in cabinets. The computer catalog (available on their web site
as well) covers acquisitions from 1980 to present. There are a
couple of special catalogs to consider. In the paper catalog
area, all the way to the end, you'll find a separate card file
for city directories, vertical files for place and surname, and
some indexes to Cook county historical and biographical works. I
suggest you write all references in your notebook first, before
filling out call slips as they will not be returned to you.
Search for your SURNAMES and PLACES - both city and county and
even state. They have a wide range of material including
genealogies, surname society newsletters, county histories,
"mug" books, etc.
Now go down to the second floor. You must check in at the desk
with your readers card and get a seat assignment. It will be
something like "J-2" which is table J seat 2. You'll see that
these are labled on the corners of the tables. Any call slip you
submit must have the seat assignment on it.
CLOSED STACK LIBRARY - For many of you this will be your first
encounter with a closed stack library. On the second floor you
will find many of the how-to, indexes, and genealogical
periodicals that are frequently used. Everything else is out of
public access. You must fill out a call slip and request that it
be brought to you. You may only turn in 3 call slips at a time.
The call slip requires your name and address. I usually bring
return address labels or a return address stamp to save time and
wear on my hands.
If you stand in the entrance of the room facing the windows, the
desk is on your right, the tables are ahead, and to your left is
the microfilm/fiche area. Head that direction now. Just before
getting to the "Local History" desk you'll see census indexes on
your left. Also, there is a rack on the wall with research
guides or pathfinders. These have been made up for various
topics and are extremely helpful. Some topics are Chicago,
Polish, Irish, German, Immigration ... These are also available
from their web site.
COPIES - You may not make any photocopies yourself. If you find
a something in a book, etc., you must fill out a request (at the
main desk) for copies. There are restrictions on the number of
pages you may copy (I think 25). Then turn in the book with the
request. They will make the copies for you and you may pick them
up on the 1st floor in the book shop. Check them carefully to
make sure that they are legible before paying. The cost of
copies is also quite high. This is to discourage you from making
any.
In order to use microfilm/fiche, you must ask at the LH desk (in
that area) for a reader. You will need your seat
assignment/reader card - don't ask me why. Once you have your
reader, most of the film/fiche is self serve. You get it, you
put it back. Behind the LH desk are cabinets containing census
and soundex, city directories, and newspapers.
CENSUS - They have IL census for all available years along with
printed indexes, and the 1900 and 1920 soundex. They do not have
the 1910 soundex --BUT-- they have a finding aid. You find them
in the city directory for 1910, then you locate that address on
a map that they have prepared with the enumeration districts
marked. From there you go to the film and ed and search for the
street and address. I have found people this way that were not
in the soundex.
In addition to IL they have all the states from 1790 to 1850.
After 1850 they have scattered stuff on other states. Look in
the notebooks on the LH desk. The card catalog might also point
to some state censuses (like 1875 NY census for Rensselaer Co.).
These are very spotty in coverage and you will have to submit a
call slip to get them.
CITY DIRECTORIES - a full run of Chicago on microfilm.
NEWSPAPERS - Daily News up to 1935, Tribune 1936-early 1970s on
microfilm.
The fiche cabinet has many of the vital records indexes that are
also available through the LDS. Births - Cook Co. - 1871-1916
Deaths - Cook Co. - 1871-1916 Deaths - Illinois - 1916-1944
There are film/fiche printers near the LH desk. It's 50 cents a
page.
They have city directories from some of the suburbs and even
from places like Seattle WA. For these you need to look at the
card catalog drawer mentioned above on the 3rd floor.
PHONE BOOKS - They have many fragile, paper, telephone books
from the city and suburbs. For availability, check at the main
desk where you turn in call slips. They have a notebook of the
holdings.
FOOD, DRINKS, RESTROOMS - There are restrooms on every floor. On
2 and 3 they are down the hall - away from the elevators. There
is a visitor lounge on the 1st floor. As you come down the
stairs and pass security, it is down the hall to your right.
There are restrooms there as well.
No food or drinks in the library. There are water fountains on
each floor near the elevators. The vistor lounge has pop, candy,
and coffee machines and tables/chairs. You should probably bring
a lunch if you are making a day of it as there are not many
places to eat nearby. If you do, leave it in your locker until
lunchtime.
Contributed by Carol Ann Kyrias
