The collections in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries and Art Institute of Chicago Archives consist of rare and unique materials. We are committed to providing access to these resources and ask for your cooperation in adhering to the following rules in order to preserve our collections for future generations of researchers.
- Museum visitors of high-school age and above may consult the collections of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries and the Art Institute of Chicago Archives by appointment; walk-in visits are not possible.
- Coats, jackets, and umbrellas must be checked in the museum cloakroom or deposited in the reading room alcove prior to seating for your appointment.
- No food or drink is allowed inside the reading room.
- Please silence your cell phone while using the reading room.
- All briefcases, bags, parcels, satchels, and loose books and papers will be inspected when leaving the reading room.
- Only pencils may be used in the reading room. Use of pens, ink, markers, and erasable ink is not permitted. Pencils are available at all public desks.
- Tracing from or writing on collection materials is not permitted.
- Do not write on books, mark pages, or use Post-Its on collection materials.
- Laptops are permitted. Free wireless is available without a password, and power outlets are available beneath all study tables.
- Patrons consulting special collection materials and archival materials may require additional supervision with viewing and handling fragile items.
- The libraries and archives attempt to make our original documents available to patrons; in a few cases, the fragility of the originals has necessitated a microfilm, photograph, or photocopy surrogate for patron use.
- Researchers who are studying items in their personal collections are welcome to work from photographs. Please do not bring any art objects or original documents into the museum.
- Processed archival collections are included in the online catalog and are also directly searchable through our digital finding aids portal.
- Archival collections are available to museum visitors by appointment; walk-in visits are not possible.
- Researchers must complete the pre-registration process and submit requests for materials at least four (4) business days prior to a confirmed appointment.
- Archival materials must be consulted in the assigned locations in the reading room and may at no time be removed from the premises. All reading room general access policies apply to archival visits.
- Collections may be unavailable for research due to incomplete organization or description; condition issues; possible violation of the right to privacy or correspondents; or the Art Institute of Chicago’s reservation of first rights to publication of current projects.
- The researcher agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Art Institute of Chicago, its officers and employees, from and against all claims and actions arising out of the researcher’s use of the documents.
- Digital photography of non-archival items is permitted, but please turn off the camera’s flash.
- The use of personal scanners, or professional photography equipment, including tripods, lighting equipment, and copy stands, is not permitted in the reading room.
- Archival materials may not be photographed without consultation with reference desk staff and completing the Permission to Photograph Archival Collections form (available at the reference desk). Restricted and unprocessed materials may not be photographed for any reason without the explicit permission of archives staff.
Photography services are available. Please see the reference desk for assistance.
- Research Center materials are accessible by appointment only. We are a closed-stack facility, which means that our research collections are not open for browsing. Instead, we ask that guests search our catalog and finding aids before visiting to discover books and archives relevant to your research.
- The archives and the libraries steward distinct collections. To request an archives appointment, please use this form. To access library materials, please use this form.
- Appointments are booked on a first-come, first-served basis and will be confirmed within two business days.
- Researchers must complete a pre-registration process and submit requests for materials electronically at least one week prior to the appointment.
- To ensure that materials are prepared for your visit, your requests must be received a minimum of 48 hours prior to your appointment.
- Use this guide to assist you in navigating our online catalog to request no more than ten (10) materials that you would like to consult.
- There may be limits on the amount of material that can be requested or used at any one time.
- Because research is a process of discovery, our paging schedule includes one opportunity during each appointment session for researchers to request additional materials. We encourage you to review our discovery tools and to make the most of your requests in advance of your appointment.
Requesting Library Materials:
- Readers are not admitted to the book stacks. Library materials other than those shelved on the open-shelf reference collection in the reading room must be requested through the online catalog.
- A maximum of ten (10) items can be requested at a time.
- Your appointment confirmation will include a login and password for the catalog. You will need to login and place requests for each item using the digital request system. This guide contains information on requesting materials.
Requesting Archival Materials:
- Review the archival finding aids to identify what you would like to view.
- After you submit the archives appointment request form, archivists will work with you to answer any questions and help you to refine your requests.
- A maximum of ten (10) items (boxes, flat files, and/or portfolios) can be paged at any one time.
- Your research materials will be waiting at a table in the reading room. Research Center staff will provide you with guidance on handling the materials.
- Fragile materials may be delivered to you with special equipment (cradles, foam supports, etc.) Please respect that these supports are used to protect and preserve our collections.
Handling Archives:
- The researcher may use only one archival box, flat file, or portfolio at a time.
- The researcher is expected to preserve the existing arrangement of the material within folders and boxes. If anything appears to be misfiled, the researcher should not attempt to move it, but call it to the attention of the archivist or reference staff.
- Any special equipment necessary for handling materials (gloves, light boards, stereoscope viewer, etc.) will be delivered to you with the items you requested. If you find that you require equipment for viewing that is not available on your study table please consult the reference staff.
