Students standing in a library
John M. Flaxman Library

Hours, Visiting, & Borrowing

Locations and Hours

Flaxman Library (Sharp Building, 5th and 6th floors) 

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

flaxman@saic.edu 
312.899.5097 

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 
CLOSED: January 20 & March 21 
Closing early (5:00 p.m.): March 20

Winter Interim
January 2–22: 
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
CLOSED: January 20 & March 21 
Closing early (4:00 p.m.): March 20 + April 28–May 2 (Critique Week) 

Winter Interim
January 2–22: 
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (by appointment only)
Saturday–Sunday: Closed

Visitor Information

S/AIC Community

Flaxman Library is open to S/AIC students, faculty, staff, and alumni without an appointment. 

General Public/I-Share Members

If you are not a member of the S/AIC 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.

Borrowing from Flaxman Library

Circulating items can be borrowed by S/AIC community and I-Share partner members. See details for borrowing and renewing library items on our Policies & Borrowing page.

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 Policies 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.