Helen McLean Library

The McLean Library, named for Institute co-founder and library founder Helen McLean, contains one of the largest collections of psychoanalytic literature in the world. It has occupied a central position in the educational programs of the Institute since its founding in 1932. 

Holdings include more than 20,000 volumes and 14 current print and online journal subscriptions in the fields of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and psychiatry. Students and faculty enjoy full access to the Psychoanalytic Electronic Publishing (PEP-Web) database, a collection of more than 200 books, journals and videos specializing in psychoanalytic topics. We supplement these subscriptions with article and monograph files, as well as complete print runs of many journals no longer in print.

Our database is fully searchable by keyword.

Search the Institute's McLean Library

The McLean Library belongs to the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, a library network covering northern Illinois. Our participation in this state agency gives us access to the print and electronic collections of more than 600 of our fellow member libraries. In addition, the library benefits from other state services that enable us to request electronic copies of journal articles from libraries across the country.

Scholars, clinicians, and the general public are welcome to visit the McLean Library on a walk-in basis or by appointment.  We are open to the public during business hours (but please contact us to confirm the librarian will be available if you require assistance). 

Search the library’s online catalog

Special collections

  • The Hogarth Collection
  • Rare books
  • Foreign-language books
  • The Anna Freud Collection
  • International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology conference proceedings (on audiocassette)
  • Reference works

Complete sets

  • The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud
  • Annual of Psychoanalysis
  • Chicago Psychoanalytic Literature Index
  • Progress in Self Psychology

Archives

In addition to our regular and special collections, the library also maintains archives gathering together the collected papers of past leaders and prominent members of the Institute, including Franz Alexander, Therese Benedek, Roy Grinker, Arnold Goldberg & Heinz Kohut. The archives also cover the history of the Institute and affiliated organizations.

The archives’ Gitelson Film Library contains audiovisual materials, such as interviews with members of the Institute’s clinical staff and discussions of pertinent topics in the field of psychoanalysis.

Questions? Please contact the Librarian by email or at 312-897-1419.