Reading Room Access and Research Services for AIC Staff: Reading Room Hours

ACCESS FOR MUSEUM STAFF, FELLOWS AND INTERNS

The Research Center’s Franke Reading Room is a shared space in which researchers can consult the collections of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries and the Art Institute of Chicago Archives. The reading room is open to all Art Institute of Chicago staff to pick up requested circulating materials, work with the open shelf reference collection or items on staff reserve, consult reference librarians, use scanning equipment, and return materials during the following hours: Mondays through Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

We invite our museum colleagues to use the Franke Reading Room as a quiet space for focused reading and writing projects away from the bustle of the curatorial offices. The front doors (next to the Grand Staircase) are always unlocked on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If the front doors are locked, please use the staff entrance to the Research Center in the Photo & Media gallery 10 downstairs (between the Thorne Rooms and Paperweights).

ORIENTATIONS

In order to use the Libraries click-and-collect book retrieval system or make appointments to view special collections materials, new users must attend an orientation. Library orientations are offered at 11:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. Please complete this form to request a g-cal invitation.

NONCIRCULATING MATERIALS AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Special collections items, accessioned items, and archives do not circulate outside the reading room. Museum staff may make research appointments to view restricted materials on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. (for staff exclusively), and Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. (staff and public appointments). More information is available here.

Request a Library special collections appointment here:   Make a Library Appointment

Archival research appointments for museum staff are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. (for staff exclusively), and Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. (staff and public appointments). To request an Archives research appointment, please complete this form.

RESEARCH VISITS TO THE STACKS

Art Institute of Chicago staff who have completed the library orientation may make appointments to visit the library's onsite, general collection stacks for the purpose of searching and browsing. Half-hour appointments may be scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting at 9:30 a.m., with the last appointment starting at 4:15 p.m. More information is available here.

Ryerson & Burnham Libraries
readserv@artic.edu: for reference assistance, library orientation information, questions on interlibrary loan, and questions on library access and services. The following staff can also assist with these types of questions:

Aaron Rutt (x3-3936)

Jenn Smith (x7-7103)

circulation@artic.edu:  for questions on circulation, offsite materials, bulk returns, and scanning requests. The following staff can also assist with these types of questions: 

Abby Adams (x3-3667)

The Art Institute of Chicago Archives

For information on our collections, the history of the Art Institute and the School of the Art Institute, donation proposals, corrections, comments, and general questions, please contact Archives staff at archives@artic.edu.