Princeton University Library | Library Visitor Information

Access and borrowing privileges are accorded to anyone who shows upon request a valid Princeton University campus identification card with photograph. Members of the University community include spouses, domestic partners, widows, widowers, and children of University employees.

All cards, except those issued to organizations, are nontransferrable; transferred personal cards will be confiscated and the library privileges of the cardholder may be revoked. There is a replacement fee for all lost cards. The library reserves the right to refuse to grant access and borrowing privileges to any person who fails to observe library regulations. For details of eligibility and current fees, consult the library's Access Policy or contact the Access Office.

Guest Passes

Access cards and borrowers' cards for those who are not members of the University community are available under various provisions. Library privileges are accorded to the faculty of the Institute for Advanced Study and to the faculty and students of the Princeton Theological Seminary. All faculty and students of SHARES participants of the Research Libraries Group may obtain free access cards. Visiting faculty who do not have Princeton University ID cards, or who are not associated with the University, may have up to a total of six months free access, which may be in varying increments of time. After a total of six months, access must be purchased. Visiting faculty must be from a college or university from outside the area and provide faculty identification from their home institution. Persons desiring to use the depository collections (United States, New Jersey, United Nations, and the European Union) are granted free access to use documents only pending normal security measures. Other individuals and organizations are eligible for access cards or limited-term borrowers' cards for a fee upon application to the Access Office.

Access Policies

Access and Carrel Office
April Miller, Head
Firestone, 1-9-C
609.258.5737 (please call in advance of your visit)
email: access@princeton.edu

Hours during the Academic Year: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Summer hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; closed on Saturday and Sunday. Holiday hours vary.

Carrels

If you are a senior Princeton University student, graduate student, or faculty, you may be eligible for a carrel (private study room) in the library. For more information click here, or contact the Access and Carrel Office at Firestone, 1-9-C-1. Telephone: 609.258.5737.

Registering Personal Computers

Personal Computers should be registered in the Access Office or by Library Security before being brought into the Library. At the time of registration, a sticker will be issued. The sticker should be placed on the computer. When leaving the library, security will ask to see the sticker and personal identification of the library patron. If the sticker and the identification do not match, the computer may be confiscated.