Reports in this format were begun by Lawrence W. Towner when he was appointed Director and Librarian in 1962 and they were continued by his successors. Reports were issued annually until the 1984-1985 fiscal year, when they became biennial. They returned to annual after 1988. Title varies: Annual report of the Director and Librarian, 1962-1975; Annual report of the President and Librarian, 1976-1977; Annual report of the Newberry Library . . . 1979-1983; The Newberry Library annual report, 1984; The Newberry Library biennial report, 1986.

Reports review the year's activities and summarize library operations for the reporting period. Some or all of the following categories are included in the reports: staff and collection development; Research and Education programs and fellowships; Library Services activities; publications; conferences and events; fundraising; Associates and volunteers; auditors' financial statements. There are two copies of every report unless noted.

Librarian's annual reports, 1887-1941, form part of Trustee annual reports, Record Group 02/01/20. Typescript copies of Librarian's reports are also located in Trustee Reports and Documents, Record Group 02/01/21, Trustee Minutes, Record Group 02/01/30, and in the Librarians' individual papers, Record Group 03. From 1944-1979, the Newberry issued the "Newberry Library Bulletin," which was supposed to take the place of the Annual Report, but did not contain much statistical information. Statistical information for the years 1942-1961 can be found in NL Archives 03/20/21, Departmental Reports.