The Newberry Library Book Fair: What Families Need to Know

For decades, the Newberry Library Book Fair was a summer ritual in Chicago. Every July, the research library on Walton Street filled its rooms with tables of donated used books, sold cheaply, with proceeds supporting the library. Families came with tote bags and left with stacks. If you are searching for the fair now, here is the most important thing to know: the Newberry ended its annual used book fair after the 2023 edition. This guide covers what changed, what the Newberry still offers families, and where to get a similar fix.

What happened to the book fair

The Newberry announced in 2023 that the book fair would not return. Library representatives described it as the result of long conversations about the fair’s future, following a new strategic plan adopted in 2022 that focuses on engaging the public with the library’s own collection, exhibitions and free programs. The library’s leadership called it a hard decision.

The fair ran entirely on donated books from Chicagoans clearing out shelves, so its end also changed where those donations go. If you have boxes of books to give away, the Newberry is no longer the default answer. Check with your local library branch, a Friends of the Library group, or a charity resale shop instead.

You may see the Newberry name attached to a different kind of event: the library has hosted a rare map and book fair with specialist dealers, organized with the Chicago Map Society. That is a collectors’ event, not a bargain-bin sale. Older kids who love maps might enjoy a look, but it is a very different experience from the old used book fair. Check newberry.org for what is currently on the calendar.

Visiting the Newberry with kids today

The Newberry is an independent research library, not a lending library, so you cannot check out books. But the public parts of the building are free and worth a visit with curious kids.

• Exhibition galleries. The galleries are free and open to everyone. Exhibitions draw on the library’s collections of maps, manuscripts and rare books, and they change through the year. Short visits work best with younger children.
• Public programs. The library runs free talks, workshops and events. Most are aimed at adults, but some suit older kids and teens with a specific interest.
• The building itself. It is a grand, quiet, 1890s building. For kids who have only seen modern libraries, the scale and stillness are part of the appeal. Keep voices low.

Reading rooms and age rules

The reading rooms, where researchers use the collection, have an age limit. The library’s current rule is that users must be over 14, with an allowance for ninth graders working on a topic related to the collection. Younger kids with a genuine research question are not shut out entirely: the Newberry’s reference staff answer questions by email and phone for anyone, of any age.

For a teenager with a history project, a family history question or a fascination with old maps, this is one of the most interesting free resources in the city. Read the visitor information on the library’s site before you go, since hours and registration steps can change.

Right across the street

The Newberry faces Washington Square Park, a small, leafy square with a long history as a gathering spot for soapbox speakers, which earned it the nickname Bughouse Square. It is a good place for kids to burn off the energy they held in while being quiet in the galleries. Bring snacks. The surrounding Gold Coast and River North blocks are mostly residential and restaurants, so plan a lunch stop in advance.

Where to find cheap used books now

The appeal of the old fair was simple: lots of books, low prices, and the fun of digging. You can recreate most of that elsewhere.

• Library book sales. Many Chicago Public Library branches and suburban libraries hold used book sales run by Friends groups. Ask at your branch or check its events listings.
• Independent used bookstores. Chicago has a strong scene of used and secondhand bookshops. Many have kids’ sections, and staff are usually happy to help a young reader find the next book in a series.
• Little Free Libraries. The small book boxes on front lawns and parkways around the city are a great take-one, leave-one habit for kids. Walking between them can be its own outing.
• School and church sales. Spring and fall rummage sales often have large book tables at very low prices.

Tips for a book-buying outing with kids

• Set a budget in books, not dollars. “Pick three” is easier for kids to manage than a price.
• Bring your own bag. A sturdy tote or a small backpack per child makes them responsible for their own haul.
• Go early. At any sale, the best children’s books and series sets tend to go first.
• Check condition. Flip through picture books for torn pages or missing pieces in lift-the-flap books before you pay.

If you are short on shelf space at home, our guide to gifts for city kids with small spaces has ideas for storing books without taking over the apartment. And for the next rainy weekend, a library visit followed by a stop at a used bookstore costs little and fills an afternoon.