The George Peabody Library is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world, but is also an essential space for teaching and research.

Formerly the Library of the Peabody Institute of the City of Baltimore, the library’s collection dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. In that year, George Peabody, a Massachusetts-born philanthropist, dedicated the Peabody Institute to the citizens of Baltimore in appreciation of their “kindness and hospitality.”

The library building opened in 1878 and was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind, in collaboration with the Peabody Institute’s first provost, Dr. Nathaniel H. Morison. The stack room contains five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies, which rise dramatically to the skylight 61 feet above the floor.

The library contains 300,000 volumes, mainly from the 19th century, with strengths in religion, British art, architecture, topography and history; American history, biography, and literature; Romance languages and literature; history of science; and geography, exploration, and travel.

Peabody 360: Explore the Peabody Library

Check out the high-resolution 360-degree virtual tour of the stunning interior.


Hours

  • September 29 - October 05
    9/29 Sun 9/30 Mon 10/01 Tue 10/02 Wed 10/03 Thu 10/04 Fri 10/05 Sat
    Closed 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 3pm Closed Closed
  • October 06 - October 12
    10/06 Sun 10/07 Mon 10/08 Tue 10/09 Wed 10/10 Thu 10/11 Fri 10/12 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 13 - October 19
    10/13 Sun 10/14 Mon 10/15 Tue 10/16 Wed 10/17 Thu 10/18 Fri 10/19 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 3pm Closed Closed
  • October 20 - October 26
    10/20 Sun 10/21 Mon 10/22 Tue 10/23 Wed 10/24 Thu 10/25 Fri 10/26 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • October 27 - November 02
    10/27 Sun 10/28 Mon 10/29 Tue 10/30 Wed 10/31 Thu 11/01 Fri 11/02 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 3pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 03 - November 09
    11/03 Sun 11/04 Mon 11/05 Tue 11/06 Wed 11/07 Thu 11/08 Fri 11/09 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 10 - November 16
    11/10 Sun 11/11 Mon 11/12 Tue 11/13 Wed 11/14 Thu 11/15 Fri 11/16 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 17 - November 23
    11/17 Sun 11/18 Mon 11/19 Tue 11/20 Wed 11/21 Thu 11/22 Fri 11/23 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • November 24 - November 30
    11/24 Sun 11/25 Mon 11/26 Tue 11/27 Wed 11/28 Thu 11/29 Fri 11/30 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed Closed
  • December 01 - December 07
    12/01 Sun 12/02 Mon 12/03 Tue 12/04 Wed 12/05 Thu 12/06 Fri 12/07 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • December 08 - December 14
    12/08 Sun 12/09 Mon 12/10 Tue 12/11 Wed 12/12 Thu 12/13 Fri 12/14 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed
  • December 15 - December 21
    12/15 Sun 12/16 Mon 12/17 Tue 12/18 Wed 12/19 Thu 12/20 Fri 12/21 Sat
    11am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm 10am - 5pm Closed Closed

George Peabody Library General Rules

In support of its mission to provide access to materials and services in an environment that is conducive to learning, George Peabody Library requires all visitors to comply with the following general rules:

  • Access is limited to the ground floor.
  • Visitors who engage in conduct that disrupts or interferes with the scholarly environment may be asked to leave.

George Peabody Library Photography and Filming Policies

Casual, amateur photography and filming are permitted for personal, non-commercial use with the following conditions:

  • Hand-held cameras
  • No flash, lights, tripods or professional camera equipment.
  • Disruptive photography or filming is not allowed.
  • All subjects, including library users and staff, must give consent.
  • Please share with us! @jhulibraries

Portrait photographs and photography and filming intended for commercial use must be prearranged with and approved by the Office of Private Events and may be subject to a fee.

  • Portrait photographs are posed, professional or semi-professional photos taken with artistic direction and include family, engagement, wedding, maternity, prom, or other special occasion portraits. The photographer may be paid or unpaid. The Private Events Office reserves the right to define what classifies as portrait photography on a case-by-case basis.
  • Portrait and commercial photo shoots can only take place on Fridays when the library is closed to the public.
  • To inquire about portrait and commercial photography and filming, fill out the Office of Private Events contact form or email privateeventsoffice@jhu.edu and a staff member will contact you.
  • For media requests related to the library’s mission, history, and collections, email the Office of Communications at lm-comms@jhu.edu

Contact George Peabody Library

Contact Us

Have a question about the Peabody Library?
Call 667-208-6715 or contact Paul Espinosa, Curator of the Peabody Library.

Private Events Office

Book a special event at the George Peabody Library

Contact Us

Offices located at Evergreen Museum & Library
443-840-9585
privateeventsoffice@jhu.edu
peabodyevents.library.jhu.edu/