While the Library primarily supports the Princeton University community, we are committed to making our world-class resources available for wider use. To that end, the Library is open to the public, however some spaces require reservations, walk-in day passes, or access cards depending on your affiliation with the university. Firestone Library Access Options Library Access Card and Day Passes Access Firestone Library’s physical space, including open reading rooms and use the on-site open stack collection.You may use a library computers to access the majority of our electronic databases. Access cards and day passes are free, however eligibility depends on your affiliation with the university. Special Collections Researcher Card Special Collections at Firestone Library and Mudd Manuscript Library are open the public without an appointment. Visitors must first apply for a Special Collections researcher account, and also apply for an access card. While it is not necessary to request material through your researcher account ahead of time, doing so will save you time. Library Borrowing Card Visitors who wish to borrow materials from the collection may pay a fee of $800 a year or $400 for 6 months. Alumni receive a 50% discount. Visitors with borrowing privileges do not have off-site access to electronic resources and databases. Learn more about guest borrowing privileges and policies.To apply, please contact the Access Office directly by phone or email. What can I do without an access card?Cotsen Children’s Library and the Milberg Gallery in Firestone Library are open to the public without an access card during regular hours of operation. Branch library locations are also open to the public until 8:30 pm. View Hours How to Request Library Access Your access eligibility depends on your affiliation with Princeton University. Select your affiliation to learn more about the type of access you qualify for and how to apply. Visitor Access by Affiliation Special Collections Researchers Visitors to Special Collections are welcome without a reservation. To speed up your check in process, please create your Special Collections researcher account and apply for your access card at least two days before your planned visit. You can pick up your card at the Firestone Access Desk or the front desk at Mudd Manuscript Library. Please bring a photo ID with you when you pick up your card. If you need to renew your card please call or email us at (609) 258-5737 or [email protected]. Institute for Advanced Study Members and researchers at the Institute for Advanced Study are eligible for a free access card and free borrowing privileges at Princeton University Library. Please complete our online application and our staff will set up your accounts and print your card. Please bring a photo ID with you when you pick up your card. Members who will receive a Princeton University NetID should wait until their NetID is assigned before completing the application. If you have questions about the relationship between IAS and Princeton University Library, please contact IAS librarian Marcia Tucker at [email protected]. Princeton Theological Seminary Students and faculty from Princeton Theological Seminary are eligible for a free access card and free borrowing privileges at Princeton University Library. Please complete our online application and our staff will set up your accounts and print your card. Please bring a photo ID with you when you pick up your card. Alumni Princeton University alumni are always welcome at the Library. If you are visiting for a day or a short time, you can get a free day pass from the Access Office. If you will be visiting more frequently you can apply for an access card that will allow you through the Firestone Library turnstile without having to stop at the Access Office each visit. Please bring a photo ID with you when you pick up your card. Alumni are also welcome to bring guests to the Library. If you need to renew your card please call or email us at (609) 258-5737 or [email protected]. Alumni BorrowingAlumni are also eligible for a 50% discount on borrowing privileges at Princeton University Library. Read more about alumni borrowing privileges and policies.ReCAP RequestsAlumni without borrowing privileges may request books from ReCAP and the Annex off-site storage facilities for free. Please email [email protected] so we may request the books on your behalf. Guests of Princeton students, faculty, and staff Princeton students, faculty, staff, and alumni may bring guests into Firestone Library without a reservation. Please visit the Access Office upon arrival to get a free day pass. Princeton community members should plan to escort their guests. Ivy Plus, ARL, SHARES, and Borrow Direct Students, faculty, and staff from Ivy Plus, ARL, and SHARES institutions are able to visit without a reservation. If you are visiting for a day or a short time, you can get a free day pass from the Access Office. If you will be visiting more frequently you can apply for a free access card that will allow you through the Firestone Library turnstile without having to stop at the Access Office each visit. Please bring a photo ID with you when you pick up your card. If you need to renew your card please call or email us at (609) 258-5737 or [email protected]. BorrowDirect+ BorrowingStudents and faculty from BorrowDirect+ institutions are eligible to apply for a Princeton University Library borrowing account. Read more about BorrowDirect+ borrowing privileges and policies. Students and faculty at a non-ARL, SHARES, or Borrow Direct Institution Students and faculty from institutions that are not part of the Ivy Plus, ARL, or SHARES consortia wishing to use the general collections are eligible for a free day pass and must make a reservation in advance. Please visit the Access Office upon arrival to check in and get a day pass. Members of Friends of Princeton University Library Members of Friends of Princeton University Library are welcome to visit Firestone Library without a reservation. Please visit the Access Office upon arrival to get a day pass. Independent Researchers Independent researchers wishing to use the general collections are eligible for a free day pass and must make a reservation in advance. Please visit the Access Office upon arrival to check in and get a day pass. Government Document Depository Visitors Princeton University Library is an official document depository for the following entities:The European Union (1964- )The State of New Jersey (1950- )The United Nations (1945- )The United States Federal Government (1884- )The depository collections are available for public use when the Firestone Library Access Desk is open and reservations are encouraged. Branch libraries with separate subject collections may have different hours. While not necessary, it is recommended that visitors to the depository collection make an appointment with a reference specialist to ensure that the materials will be available for their on-site use when the visitor arrives. Community Members Community members wishing to use the general collections are eligible for a free day pass and must make a reservation in advance. Please visit the Access Office upon arrival to check in and get a day pass. Tourists and Tour Groups As Firestone Library is an active research library dedicated to quiet study, we do not allow groups to tour through. Likewise, we ask that tourists take advantage of the public spaces in the lobby, including Cotsen Children’s Library and the Milberg Gallery. We appreciate your cooperation in making the library a space devoted to academic inquiry. Visitor FAQ Can I print in the library? Printers are only available to current students, faculty, and staff with a valid Net ID. Can I connect to Wi-Fi? You may connect to wifi through the puvisitor network or eduroam network if you are already an eduroam user. More details are available on the Princeton Service Portal. Can I use my own laptop to look at library databases and electronic resources? No. If you use your own laptop you will be prompted to log in with a NetID and password. To connect to databases and electronic resources please use one of our desktop computers in the library. When can I visit the library? Branch libraries are open to the public during their open hours. Firestone Library accepts visitors all seven days of the week from 9am to 7pm. Princeton students with an ID card may bring in guests before and after these hours, but must stop at the public safety desk to register their guests. What can I do without a library card? Cotsen Children's Library and the Milberg Gallery in Firestone Library are open to the public without an access card during regular hours of operation. Branch library locations are also open to the public until 8:30pm. View Hours Can I come to the library just to study? Firestone Library extends the uses of its spaces to the public. Visitors must be at least 18 years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. Depending on your affiliation you may qualify for a reservation, day pass, or access card. Can I use library material that is located off site at ReCAP or the Annex? If you do not have a borrowing account we charge $100 per week for the retrieval of up to 10 items to offset the cost of retrieval and transportation. The exception to this policy is alumni, for whom this service is free. It is often more economical to place an interlibrary loan request for items through your home institution or local public library. Am I able to access all of Princeton's electronic resources when at the library? You will be able to access the vast majority of Princeton's electronic resources when at the library. The exceptions are: Dixon audiobook & ebook collectionsCapital IQCBondsClarivate Analytics (Cortellis)DatastreamHaver AnalyticsLexis Nexis CommercialLexis Nexis Web Services KitMorningstar DirectProQuest TDM StudioRefinitiv WorkspaceSCIFinderSDC PlatinumSNL EnergySNL FinancialTickdata.comWestLaw (commercial version)WRDS and any database on its platformAll data on the DSS serversAny database requiring creation of an account How do I renew my access card? If your current library access card has expired, you may renew your library access card if:You continue to be an enrolled student or employed faculty or staff member at an eligible institution; orYou are renewing a Special Collections access card; or You are a Princeton alumThere is no need to resubmit an application. We can take care of renewals over the phone or email at (609) 258-5737 or [email protected]. Related Services & Information BorrowDirect+ and Guest Borrower Policies Accessibility at the Library Loan Periods Exhibitions
