A person reading in a bright blue chair with a large bookshelf behind them.
John M. Flaxman Library

Hours, Visiting, & Borrowing

Visitor Information

Design by Kwong Von Glinow

Locations and Hours

Main Collections 
37 S. Wabash Ave., 6th floor 
Chicago, IL 60603 

flaxman@saic.edu 
312.899.5097 

Flaxman Library (Sharp Building, 5th and 6th floors) 
Fall and Spring Semester
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. 
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. 
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 
Sunday: Closed 

Spring Break (March 14–17, 2024)
Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (Closing early)
Friday–Sunday: Closed

Summer Break Closure (May 12–27, 2024) 
Monday–Sunday: Closed 

Summer Semester (May 28–August 27, 2024) 
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 
Saturday–Sunday: Closed 

Library Special Collections 
Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection and Archives + Other Collections 
37 S. Wabash Ave., room 503 
Chicago, IL 60603 

jfabc@saic.edu 
312.899.7486

Library Special Collections (Sharp Building, room 503) 
Fall and Spring Semester
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. 
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (only for scheduled class visits) 
Sunday: Closed

Spring Break (March 14–17, 2024)
Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Closing early)
Friday–Sunday: Closed

Critique Week Hours (April 29–May 3, 2024)
Monday–Sunday: Closed 

Summer Break Closure (May 12–27, 2024) 
Monday–Sunday: Closed 

Summer Semester (May 28–August 27, 2024) 
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. 
Saturday–Sunday: Closed 

SAIC Community

Flaxman Library is open to SAIC students, faculty, staff, and alumni without an appointment. Visiting the Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection & Archives still requires an appointment. Please email jfabc@saic.edu to schedule an appointment.

General Public/I-Share Members

If you are not a member of the SAIC community, including I-Share members, you must email flaxman@saic.edu for the Main Collections or jfabc@saic.edu for the Library Special Collections (artists’ books and archives). In your email please include the reason for your visit and your preferred dates and times. Scheduled visits are set based on staff availability. You must email at least 24 hours in advance. We will respond Monday through Friday.

Study and Equipment Spaces

When visiting the Main Collections, there are a few study or equipment spaces you can choose from (none of which are private) and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in our study rooms, please review our policy page for more information.

  • Study Desks
  • Blue Armchairs
  • iMac Stations (please note: there is no Adobe software on the iMacs)
  • Video Playback Stations
  • Bookeye Scanner

Just Need to Print or Scan?

We have one color printer and two black and white printers on the 6th floor. An additional color printer and black and white printer are on the 5th floor.

Just Need to Return Library Materials?

You can return items directly to the library when we are open or by using the metal book and media drop boxes in the Sharp lobby any time the building is open.