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Plan Your Visit to McCormick

We welcome students, faculty and scholars from around the world to use our collections. The McCormick Library is open to the public and our collections are non-circulating.

Follow the below steps to visit the library and use the collections.

MCCORMICK READING ROOM POLICIES

 

Register for the McCormick Library Request System

All patrons must create and use an account for the McCormick Library Request System to use McCormick materials or the McCormick reading room. Northwestern users will use a NetID and visitors will use an email address to register.

Login or create an account

Find and Request Materials

Books, Journals, Scores and Other Materials

  1. Search online using the McCormick Library catalog

  2. When you find an item you wish to request, click the "Request Special Collections" while logged in

Archives and Manuscript Collections

  1. Search finding aids

  2. When you are ready to place a request, click the "Request" button

  1. Set Up an Appointment to Visit the Reading Room

    You will receive an email to create an appointment when your item is available. Follow the link in the email to create an appointment during McCormick Library hours.

    Appointment Hours

    Standard hours: 9am - 4:30pm

    Closed September 8-September 15.

  2. Bring Your Wildcard or Photo ID to Enter the Building

    Visitors without a Wildcard will need to provide a government-issued photo ID to enter the library (examples: driver’s license, state ID card, passport, military ID).

    Location

    The McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives is temporarily located in University Library, Lower Level. To navigate to University Library via GPS, use the address:

    University Library
    1970 Campus Drive
    Evanston, IL 60208

    View campus parking information

  3. Arrive at the Reading Room and Receive Materials From the Service Desk

    Once you arrive at the reading room, check in with the service desk and show your ID.

    McCormick Library staff will pull a maximum of 15 boxes per patron request. Patrons will be assigned a seat at a research table where there materials will be waiting for them. Patrons can retrieve Ready Reference items from the Reading Room book shelves but must return them to service desk when finished.

To help preserve materials, you must:
  • set rare books on foam supports.
  • take only one folder out of the box at a time.
  • maintain the order of the folders in the box and the order of items within folders.
  • avoid writing on or erasing of materials.
  • avoid setting other objects on materials.
  • use gloves when handling non-sleeved photographs, negatives, cased images, and artifacts. Gloves are not necessary for other paper materials.

See all other Reading Room Policies

Failure to comply with any Reading Room policies may result in the loss of research privileges for the McCormick Library.