Newberry Library

What Newberry Library does

Newberry Library is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) research library founded in 1887 and headquartered at 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, Illinois. It is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates as a free and open public humanities institution, serving general public researchers, genealogists and family historians, academic scholars, K-12 teachers, and Indigenous communities across Illinois, the Midwest, and increasingly a global online audience.

The library's core product set comprises a physical catalog accessible via the Primo VE discovery tool, a Digital Collections platform hosting tens of thousands of high-resolution images (including 50,000+ postcards), Modern Manuscripts & Archives (including major railroad holdings such as Pullman Company records), rotating exhibitions in the Hanson and Trienens Galleries, three specialized research centers (Center for Renaissance Studies; D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies; Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography), fellowship and residency programs, adult education classes, teacher programs, and the Rosenberg Bookshop. Underlying technology is built on Ex Libris Primo VE for catalog discovery, a digital collections platform for image delivery, and digitization infrastructure; API/SDK and AI/ML layers are not indicated.

The library runs a donation-and-grant-driven nonprofit model with no direct charge to users for exhibitions, reading room access, research services, or public programs. Revenue streams comprise donations and gifts (individuals, foundations, and organizations), grants from funders such as the Mellon Foundation, NEH, Whiting, Terra, and Driehaus foundations, Rosenberg Bookshop sales (in-person and through a ThriftBooks partnership), donations of used books for resale, and venue rentals (e.g., Ruggles Hall). Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on website, social media, email newsletters, blog content, exhibitions, partner organization networks, and university consortium ties (notably CARLI I-Share) rather than commercial sales motions.

Name

Newberry Library

Legal name

Newberry Library

Website

https://newberry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Newberry Library is a Chicago-based, independent non-profit research library founded in 1887 that provides free public access to six centuries of collections, digital archives, exhibitions, fellowships, and educational programs for scholars, educators, genealogists, and community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Research Library

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA)

Keywords

• Research library services
• Special collections access
• Humanities scholarship programs
• Genealogy research services
• Historical archives access

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Gifts: The library operates as a nonprofit institution supported primarily through donations and charitable gifts from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The website features a 'Make a Gift' donation page and various giving societies.
2. Bookshop Sales: The Rosenberg Bookshop sells used books, exhibition-related merchandise, and curated items both in-person and online through ThriftBooks partnership, with proceeds supporting the library's collections and programs.
3. Donated Books and Materials: The library accepts donations of used books which are sorted and sold in the Rosenberg Bookshop and online through ThriftBooks. Proceeds benefit the library's collections and programs.
4. Venue Rentals: The Newberry offers Ruggles Hall and other spaces for venue rentals to organizations and individuals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Newberry Library is an independent non-profit research library that provides free public access to specialized historical collections spanning more than six centuries, including manuscripts, maps, printed books, postcards, and archives. It supports scholarly research, education, and community engagement through reading rooms, digital collections, rotating exhibitions, fellowships, adult education classes, teacher programs, and a bookshop. Operations are funded primarily through donations, grants, and bookshop sales.

Product overview

The Newberry Library is an independent research library offering free and open access to its collections spanning more than six centuries. The core offerings include a physical and digital catalog (Primo VE) for discovering books, manuscripts, maps, and archival materials; Digital Collections featuring tens of thousands of downloadable images; Modern Manuscripts & Archives including major railroad company records; rotating Exhibitions in dedicated galleries; three Research Centers focused on Renaissance studies, American Indian & Indigenous studies, and cartography history; Education Programs including adult classes and teacher workshops; Fellowships & Residencies for scholars and artists; and the Rosenberg Bookshop. Major current initiatives include the Indigenous Chicago Project and America 250 commemoration exhibitions. The library provides specialized services for genealogy research and maintains extensive digital resources including the Pullman Digital Collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Library Access and Reader Services Free in-person access to physical and archival collections in reading rooms for individual researchers, with reference and research assistance from staff librarians.
• Digital Collections Online platform providing global access to tens of thousands of high-resolution images of manuscripts, maps, postcards, and archival materials from the Newberry collection, available for research use.
• Library Catalog (Primo VE) Discovery tool enabling one-stop searching of the library's physical and digital book, manuscript, map, journal, newspaper, and archival holdings, with cross-searching of the I-Share consortium.
• Exhibitions Free rotating exhibitions held in the Trienens Galleries and Hanson Gallery, exploring themes drawn from the library's collections for the general public, scholars, and students.
• Fellowships and Residencies Fellowship programs for academic scholars, artists-in-residence, and scholars-in-residence providing funded research opportunities using the Newberry's collections.
• Education Programs Adult education classes, K-12 teacher professional development, undergraduate learning opportunities, and scholarly seminars for lifelong learners and educators.
• Rosenberg Bookshop Physical and online bookshop selling new and used books, exhibition merchandise, and curated items, with proceeds supporting the library's collections and programs.
• Genealogy and Local History Services Specialized research assistance for family history and local history researchers, with staff support for patrons at all stages of genealogical research.
• Research Centers Three specialized research centers—the Center for Renaissance Studies, the D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, and the Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography—offering fellowships, convenings, and scholarly programming.
• Venue Rentals Rental of event spaces including Ruggles Hall to organizations and individuals for meetings, receptions, and events.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Illinois America 250coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Newberry is a partner in Illinois America 250, an inclusive statewide effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The partnership includes exhibition programming, public events, and a passport program highlighting landmarks throughout Illinois.
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ¡Viva la Libertad! project coordinating public programs and exploring independence struggles of the Americas.
• National Museum of Mexican ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ¡Viva la Libertad! project bringing together scholars, artists, and community members.
• Illinois HumanitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ¡Viva la Libertad! public humanities project exploring independence struggles.
• Instituto Justice and Leadership AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the ¡Viva la Libertad! project focused on community engagement around independence and liberty themes.
• Carleton CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Indigenous Chicago project with faculty and students collaborating on research, curricular materials, and community engagement.
• Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (CAICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner in the Indigenous Chicago project, ensuring Native community voices are centered in project development.
• Shakespeare Project of ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Toasting the Revolution program, with actors leading audiences in performing early toasts from the Newberry collection.
• Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorI-Share consortium partnership enabling shared catalog access and resource sharing across Illinois academic libraries.
• Museum of the American RevolutionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in programming featuring George Washington's dining tent display in Washington Square Park during Declaration of Independence events.
• DePaul UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademics from DePaul serve as exhibition curators and speakers at Newberry programs.
• University of ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty from University of Chicago serve as exhibition curators and speakers, including Eric Slauter as curator of Free and Independent exhibition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harry Ransom Center (University of Texas at Austin): Humanities research library and museum at UT Austin holding rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials across literature, performing arts, and film. Comparable as a research library offering fellowships, exhibitions, and extensive digital access programs.
• Folger Shakespeare Library: Independent nonprofit research library in Washington, D.C. focused on Shakespeare, the early modern period, and the humanities. Closely comparable to the Newberry in mission (free-access independent research library), governance (501(c)(3) with endowed collections), and programming model (fellowships, exhibitions, public programs).
• Library Company of Philadelphia: Independent research library founded in 1731, holding deep collections in early American history, African American history, and print culture. Comparable to the Newberry as an old, endowed, independent research library with curated special collections and fellowship programs.
• Boston Athenaeum: Independent membership library in Boston with rare books, manuscripts, and fine art collections supporting scholarly research and public programming. Closely parallel to the Newberry in operating model and curated special-collections focus.
• Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens: Independent research library and cultural institution in San Marino, California, holding world-class rare books, manuscripts, and British/American history collections. Directly comparable as a private, free-to-the-public research library offering fellowships, exhibitions, and public programs built around deep special collections.
• American Antiquarian Society: Independent research library in Worcester, Massachusetts, dedicated to American history and culture through 1876. Comparable as a nonprofit membership-based research library providing fellowships, extensive rare-book and periodical holdings, and scholarly programming.
• Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library (Yale University): Yale's rare book and manuscript library, holding world-class collections in literature, history, and the humanities with fellowships and exhibitions. Comparable to the Newberry's humanities research mission and exhibition program, though embedded within a larger university.

Regional players

• Field Museum: Major Chicago natural history museum with significant collections, public exhibitions, and volunteer corps. Overlaps with the Newberry as a Chicago-based nonprofit cultural institution and source of cross-trained staff (e.g., the volunteer manager's prior tenure).
• Chicago History Museum: Chicago-based cultural institution holding extensive Chicago and Midwest history collections, exhibitions, and public programs. Directly comparable to the Newberry's Chicago/Midwest history holdings and regional public programming, though anchored in museum rather than library operations.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Libraries and Archives: Federally funded library and archival system supporting 21 Smithsonian museums and research centers. Comparable in scale of special collections, exhibitions, and public programming, but operating as a much larger federally supported institution rather than an independent nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/intent/follow?source=followbutton&variant=1.0&screen_name=newberrylibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thenewberrylibrary?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewberryLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newberry-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/newberrylibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Newberry Library