Careers

The Newberry is an intellectually stimulating workplace, rich with opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to the library’s mission.

A Newberry staff person works with a research fellow in the Special Collections Reading Room.

Plan Your Career at the Newberry

If you are passionate about what we do, we hope you’ll consider applying for an open position at the Newberry.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who wish to apply for employment at the Newberry may request reasonable accommodation for assistance with the application process by contacting jobs@newberry.org.

The Newberry is currently searching for its next President and Librarian. The search is being led by Isaacson, Miller. More information about the position and how to apply can be found on their website.

View Open Positions

The Newberry is proud to offer a competitive benefits package designed to attract new talent and retain our extraordinary staff. We offer a total package that includes compensation, health insurance, retirement plans, and other key benefits.

Benefits include:

  • Several comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, and vision care plans
  • Library-provided life, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance
  • Retirement plan with an employer match of up to 6% of total compensation
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick, and personal time, along with 12 paid holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • Newberry Bookshop employee discount

Whether working in the stacks with the Newberry’s collection or welcoming visitors for a public program, Newberry interns gain hands-on experience at a dynamic research library. By working alongside Newberry staff, interns have opportunities to learn about careers in the public humanities, library and archival sciences, scholarly research, and non-profit administration. In keeping with its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Newberry offers internships for pay or for academic credit.

The Newberry’s internship opportunities change year to year. Recent interns have worked in conservation, special collections, exhibitions, digital imaging services, events, fundraising, and public engagement, among many other departments. No matter the department, managers serve as mentors, helping to make internships valuable educational experiences. All interns are welcomed as members of the Newberry community and are encouraged to participate in the Newberry’s educational opportunities.

The Newberry is grateful for partnerships with area universities and organizations that provide funding for student internships. If your school or organization is interested in working with the Newberry as an internship partner, please write to us at internships@newberry.org.

All available internship opportunities will be listed on the Newberry Career Center website.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Newberry is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, the library does not discriminate in hiring or employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

Our Values

Curiosity lies at the heart of our activities. A spirit of inquiry both fuels and is fueled by the curiosity of all who engage with the Newberry.

The Newberry inspires and supports learning by inviting library users and staff to advance their knowledge through research, scholarship, and public discussion. We view knowledge as an exchange—freely shared and received.

Always being attuned to the needs and desires of library users onsite and online helps us guide their engagement with our collection, staff, and learning opportunities. Our sense of service also guides our behavior toward our own colleagues, which helps create a culture of mutual respect in which we all advance the Newberry’s mission together.

The value of our collection and expertise is enhanced by our capacity to connect to what is happening in the world—locally, nationally, and globally. For this reason, we focus on how our resources matter, and how to make them matter more.

The Newberry’s vitality requires that we both find ways to attract new and diverse participants to our offerings and foster a sense of belonging among all how participate. We do this by being intentional about connecting people, building trust across groups, inviting multiple perspectives, and asking whose stories are told, by whom.

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About the Newberry

Founded in 1887, the Newberry is one of Chicago’s most historic cultural institutions.

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