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Building Access Policy

Northwestern University students, faculty, staff and affiliates have access to the library at all open hours as listed at the library website; please note the latest changes for recess and holidays.

Faculty, staff, students and patrons with NU barcoded library cards are required to scan their WildCARD or library card at the turnstile each time they enter the library.

Northwestern University Library affiliates may enter the Northwestern University Library during all open hours by showing one of these forms of ID: Northwestern University Alumni Card;  current ID from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary; staff ID from the following Northwestern Medical School affiliates:

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly called: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
• Jesse Brown VA Medical Center 

The following groups may enter the library during all open hours by showing a current photo ID from their institution and registering with one of these pieces of photo identification: driver’s license, state ID card, passport or military ID.

• Current faculty, staff and students from a Big Ten Academic Alliance University
• Current University ID from Loyola University of Chicago
• Current ID from University of Illinois Chicago
• Current faculty from universities outside of the Big Ten Academic Alliance
• Current Staff ID from The Art Institute of Chicago
• Current Staff ID from The Newberry Library

Anyone without a Northwestern affiliate ID must register in order to enter the library. As part of the registration process, these individuals must present one of these pieces of photo identification: driver’s license, state ID card, passport or military ID. Registered patrons will be given a barcode to use to enter the building which will expire at the end of the day’s public hours.

Users of depository collections in the Government and Geographic Information and Data Services Department and in the Transportation Library can enter the Main Library building during the hours those departments are open by registering as described above.

Minor children accompanied by adults registered or otherwise permitted to enter the library are also welcome.

The Library is open to the general public Monday through Saturday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Hours may be adjusted for special events.

All users of the library must observe the Building Use Policy and other library and university policies.

Last Review: January 2017