Beinecke Library | Yale Library Skip to main content User account menu Hours & Libraries Bass Library Beinecke Library Classics Library Cushing/Whitney Medical Library Divinity Library Gilmore Music Library Haas Family Arts Library Lewis Walpole Library Lillian Goldman Law Library Marx Library Sterling Memorial Library Yale Center for British Art Yale Film Archive Ask Yale Library My Accounts Enter search Main navigation Find & Request Find Quicksearch Catalog Databases Articles+ Archives at Yale Digital Collections FirstSearch (WorldCat) E-Journals Request & Use BorrowDirect Interlibrary Loan Purchase Request Course Reserves Using Special Collections General Collections E-Resources Research Support Getting Started Services & Tools Data & Computational Support Workshops Research Consultation Personal Librarians Subject Specialists Research Guides Using AI in Research Visit All Libraries Places to Study Room Reservations Policies on Library Access & Use Sterling Library Tours Collections Using Special Collections Digital Collections General Collections E-Resources University Archives Collection Development About Us About the Library Working at Yale Library Prizes Directory of Departments & Libraries Yale Staff Directory Giving Contact News & Events Exhibitions All News All Events For the Media Special Collections search Enter search Archives | Catalog | Digital Collections | Using Special Collections Beinecke Navigation Plan Your Visit For Students For Researchers For Instructors For the Public Beinecke Collections About Us Free and open to all: Beinecke Library is Yale Library’s primary home for special collections—and a landmark of modern architecture. We preserve and share rare books, manuscripts, archives, and more that illuminate human history, creativity, and culture. We welcome thousands of visitors each year from Yale, New Haven, and beyond to tour the library, use and teach with our collections, view exhibitions, and attend events. We welcome researchers and the general public. Anyone may view our exhibitions, and registered readers may use our materials in our reading rooms. Plan your visit Visitor Information The library is located on “Beinecke Plaza,” or Hewitt Quadrangle. The main entrance, a revolving door, is located on the plaza across from Woolsey Hall. An accessible entrance is located at the rear of the building. Public Exhibition Hall (ground floor and mezzanine) We welcome visitors to the exhibition hall and to attend our regularly scheduled tours. There is no charge, reservation, or registration required for walk-in visits and scheduled tours. Tours: Walk-in guests are welcome to join our regularly scheduled tours free of charge. No registration or reservations are required. Learn more about tours. Photography: Still photography and video are permitted for personal, non-commercial use only. Flash, tripods, and selfie sticks are not allowed. Please refrain from filming staff and other gallery guests. Professional or commercial photography or filming of any kind requires advance, written permission. Contact us for more information. Food and Drink: Outside food and drinks are prohibited in the library. Bathrooms: There are no public restrooms in the building. Accessible restrooms and water fountains are available nearby in Bass Library and Sterling Memorial Library. Media: For exhibition-related media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. All other media questions, including requests for commercial photography and filming, should be sent to [email protected]. Beinecke Reading Room (court level) The reading room is open to registered researchers free of charge. Yale and non-Yale researchers can learn how to register here. All are welcome to access materials through Digital Collections as well as by requesting reproductions. Manuscripts and Archives Reading Room (Located in Sterling Memorial Library) Materials from Beinecke Library’s Manuscripts and Archives collections, the Yale University Archives, and Music Library Special Collections can be requested for use in the Manuscripts and Archives Reading Room. Accessibility The Beinecke recognizes the diverse needs of all audiences, and we are committed to making our building, collections, and programs accessible. If you have questions about the accessibility provisions of our facilities, or if you are a researcher requiring accommodation, please email [email protected] or phone (203) 432-2977 prior to your visit. Entrance An accessible entrance is located on the side of the building facing Wall Street. This entrance is normally locked, but our security staff and desk attendants monitor the door and will be happy to assist. Elevator All public exhibition spaces and research areas are accessible via an elevator and stairs. Due to the historic design of the building, a staff escort is required to use the elevator located behind the main welcome desk. For questions and assistance, please approach any member of our staff or security team. Wheelchairs and Seating Wheelchairs are available for use free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis upon request. All levels of the building have chairs and seating areas, and portable stools are also available for use free of charge. Accessible Bathrooms There are no public restrooms in the building. Accessible restrooms and water fountains are available nearby in Bass Library and Sterling Memorial Library. Large Print Labels Large print versions of all exhibition texts and object labels are available for use in our galleries. Parking Accessible metered parking is available on High St. between Wall St. and Grove St. Additionally, there are designated accessible metered parking spaces throughout Yale’s campus on New Haven streets. These are first-come, first-served and do require use of the meter by Connecticut State Law. Accessible parking tags and license plates from other U.S. states are honored in the city. Yale Students and Affiliates We are happy to partner with Student Accessibility Services to meet all students’ needs. More information about Yale Library’s accessibility efforts and resources can be found here: Yale Library Accessibility. Holidays and Closures Beinecke's reading rooms and public exhibition hall are closed on: Martin Luther King Day Good Friday Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Friday During Yale winter recess from just before Christmas through the New Year holiday (in 2026-27, closed beginning Thursday, December 24, 2026, and reopening on Monday, January 4, 2027). Tours Learn about the mission, history, collection, and iconic architecture of the Beinecke from a student docent or member of the library’s staff. Discover the history of the original 1742 Library of Yale College; explore the story behind the building’s translucent marble walls and soaring glass book tower; and enjoy highlights from the collection including the Gutenberg Bible, Audubon’s “Birds of America,” and other fascinating works on display. Saturdays at 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm. Duration: 45 minutes. See the full schedule of upcoming tours. Free and open to all! No registration or reservations required. Tours depart from the welcome desk by the main entrance. Self-Guided Tours: An introductory information sheet about the library is available at the reception desk. School Tours by Appointment: Guided educational tours of the library can be tailored to the needs and interests of learners of different ages. Reservations must be arranged at least three weeks in advance. Please email [email protected] with the subject line “School Tour Request” to learn more and plan a class visit. School visits and tours are free of charge. Special Groups by Appointment: Civic groups, community organizations, and similar clubs can schedule tours on a limited basis. Reservations must be arranged at least three weeks in advance. Please email [email protected] with the subject line “Tour Request” to plan a visit. Please include the name of your group, number of visitors, and desired tour date(s) in your email. Tours are free of charge, but not all requests can be accommodated. Only library-organized and Yale-led tours are permitted in the building. (Tours by appointment are not officially scheduled without a formal confirmation letter from the library.) Our collections are served in two reading rooms: the Beinecke Reading Room and the Manuscripts and Archives Reading Room, located in Sterling Memorial Library. Today’s Hours Beinecke Library 9am - 4:30pm; Exhibitions open until 7pm Exhibition Gallery 9:00am – 7:00pm Reading Room 9:00am – 4:30pm Manuscripts and Archives Reading Room 9:00am – 4:30pm All Hours Contact Us Building Address: 121 Wall Street New Haven, CT 06511 (203) 432-2977 [email protected] Directions Mailing Address Special Exhibitions: Now on View Unfurling the Flag: Reflections on American Patriotism Through September 27, 2026 Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson’s Environmental Vision Through October 4, 2026 View all Beinecke exhibitions Visitor Highlights We welcome you to explore our exhibitions, conduct research, attend an event, or tour the iconic architecture of the Beinecke Library. You’ll be greeted by the library's soaring glass book tower showcasing the 1742 Library of Yale College, the university’s world-class special collections comprising the earliest printed books from Europe, and other rare publications and manuscripts from around the globe. Plan your visit » Attend an Event 2026 Mark Strand Memorial Reading by Elizabeth Alexander November 4, 2026 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Beinecke Library All Events News Yale Library displays tarot treasures in new Morgan Library exhibition, through Oct. 4 June 25, 2026 Nobody’s perfect: Hanke Gallery exhibition of 500 years of printed mistakes has far-reaching appeal June 16, 2026 Mohamed Diallo ’26 reassembles the story of Yale’s early Black students with archival research and ArcGIS mapping April 23, 2026 All News Using Special Collections Our special collections are free and open to all with a simple registration process. P.O. Box 208240 New Haven, CT 06520-8240 (203) 432-1775 Social Media Facebook Instagram YouTube Footer navigation Ask Yale Library My Library Accounts Subscribe to our Newsletter Contact Our Web Team Drupal Login Footer secondary navigation Accessibility Giving Privacy & Data Use Library Staff Hub © 2026 Yale University Library • All Rights Reserved