The Newberry Library

With its grand staircase, intricate architectural details, and spacious halls, The Newberry Library is a unique, historic and world-renowned research library offering distinctive gathering spaces for special occasions. The Newberry collection—some 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 5 million manuscript pages—is a portal to more than six centuries of human history, from the Middle Ages to the present. We connect researchers and visitors with our collection in the Newberry’s reading rooms, exhibition galleries, program spaces, classrooms, and online digital resources. Since its founding in 1887, the Newberry has remained dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Holding your event at the Newberry will support our mission of inspiring research, teaching, and learning in the humanities. Nestled just steps from the Magnificent Mile, and across the street from the city’s oldest public park, Washington Square Park, the Newberry Library offers indoor event spaces with various capacities for intimate presentations, performances, formal ceremonies, fundraisers, galas, high-end corporate entertaining, all-day conferences, workshops and trainings, dramatic cocktail receptions, elegant dinner celebrations, and multimedia presentations. Rooms may be combined for greater capacity and for varying program components. The fully restored Lobby is a showstopper. Featuring a Romanesque entryway, distinctive chandeliers, 20-foot ceiling and broad marble staircase (great for photos and a grand entrance) it lends itself beautifully to cocktail receptions and dinner parties. Our largest event space, Ruggles Hall, can accommodate up to 160 guests in a warm and cozy library atmosphere created by its mahogany paneled walls and broad windows overlooking Washington Square Park. For more intimate gatherings, the newly created Rettinger Hall and Baskes Boardroom feature beautiful marble floors and specialty recessed lighting, and are lovely complements to the Newberry’s unique aesthetic.