In order to provide the best visitor experience for all who enter the Beinecke Library, and in keeping with the policy and practice of the Yale University Library, group tours must be Yale-led tours.

The Beinecke Library offers introductory tours, open to all individuals, on Saturdays at 1:30 pm and at 3 pm, led by library staff. Check the library’s calendar for more information. 

The Beinecke Library occasionally and on a very limited basis can arrange tours for schools, civic and community organizations, and similar organized groups of the building and exhibitions, led by library staff. Please note that we require at least three weeks’ notice for these tours specific to the Beinecke Library itself. To make a request for a tour please email beinecke.library@yale.edu with the subject line “Tour request” and include your name, the name of your group, the number of visitors, and your requested tour date(s). Submitting a request for a tour is not confirmation of your reservation. Your tour is not confirmed until you have received a formal e-mail to that effect from the library. Not all requests can be fulfilled.

Such occasional and limited group tour services are designated for schools, civic and community organizations. Individuals and families are welcome for self-guided tours of the exhibition hall. An introductory information sheet about the library’s history, architecture, and collections is available at the reception desk. No reservation or registration is required for individual walk-in visits.