Accessing Materials
Request digitization of print collections
For print collections, undergraduate students are welcome to request digitization of materials using the “Request pick-up or digitization” button in the catalog record. Book pick-up service is only available to the select group of undergraduate students who are authorized to be on campus, have an active PUID, and have completed safety training.
Access your course reserves
Access your course reserves by logging into Blackboard or Canvas and clicking on the “Reserves” menu item. If a professor indicates in the syllabus that an item is available at the Library, this often means that the item is not on reserve but rather that you can search for the item on the Library catalog.
Do research online
Library materials available online, such as digitized collections and databases, continue to be accessible. You can use either the EZ Proxy service or the SonicWall Secure Remote Access to connect to the Library. Learn more. You must have an active net ID and password to access electronic Library materials. If you have trouble accessing materials, please report a problem.
Use technology
For the select number of undergraduate students on campus: To ensure the health and safety of patrons and staff, public printers, scanners, and computers are not available in the Library at this time. Specialized computers accommodating certain programs are available. Please contact individual library locations to inquire. Office of Information Technology offers printer clusters at locations on campus.
Borrow materials from other libraries
Interlibrary Loan and Borrow Direct services are not currently operating. For materials from other libraries, submit a request through Article Express. To check the status of a request, please email ilsborr@princeton.edu.
Research Assistance
Connect with your subject librarian
Librarians are available to help you remotely through Zoom for research consultations. Contact your subject librarian to schedule a consultation.
Find your personal librarian
Every undergraduate student at Princeton is assigned a personal librarian, a friendly library expert who can help guide you through the Library. Find yours.
Get help with writing seminars
Each writing seminar is paired with a librarian who assists with research papers. To find yours, visit the Library Resources tab through your Canvas course.
Ask Us
If you have a question and aren’t sure who to ask, you can chat with us or send us an email.
Circulation & Accounts
Return books
All fines are currently suspended. Books may be returned to a book drop at any library location, regardless of the library in which the book usually resides. If you have a large number of books to return, please email the Circulation Desk at fstcirc@princeton.edu to arrange for an appointment. Likewise, if you will not be returning to campus and need to return books, please email fstcirc@princeton.edu and they will advise you on the procedure.
Confirm account is in good standing
If, for a leave of absence, you need a letter to verify that your library account is in good standing, please email the Circulation Desk at fstcirc@princeton.edu, who will send you an email as confirmation.
Library Happenings
Join library events and workshops
Browse our Events and Workshops page to view upcoming virtual library webinars, events, and workshops.
Stay in touch
Subscribe to the PUL e-newsletter to learn more about Library initiatives, resources, and events.
Work at the Library
Some undergraduate students are eligible to work at the Library remotely. Please see the student employment website for available job postings.
Virtually visit Firestone Library
Explore the inside of Firestone Library with this video.
Enjoy from home
The Library provides many subscriptions or collections that students can enjoy from the comfort of their own home:
First-Year and New Students
Checklist
New to Princeton University? View our checklist for new undergraduate students.
Accessing Materials
Do research online
Library materials available online, such as digitized collections and databases, continue to be accessible. You can use either the EZ Proxy service or the SonicWall Secure Remote Access to connect to the Library. Learn more. You must have an active net ID and password to access electronic Library materials. If you have trouble accessing materials, please report a problem.
Access print collections
Graduate students are welcome to request book pick-up or in-house digitization services. To request an item for pick-up or digitization, click the “Request Pick-up or Digitization” button in the catalog record.
Access your course reserves
Access your course reserves by logging into Blackboard or Canvas and clicking on the “Reserves” menu item. If a professor indicates in the syllabus that an item is available at the Library, this often means that the item is not on reserve but rather that you can search for the item on the Library catalog.
Study or browse in the libraries
With our new Study-Browse Service, graduate students may use our seat reservation system to book a seat in the libraries and study or browse the stacks. The service is available at all campus libraries. Seats can be reserved for up to eight hours in half hour increments.
Access collections in graduate study rooms
Starting September 4, the Graduate Study Rooms in Firestone will be accessible to authorized graduate students and faculty as part of our reservation-based Study-Browse Service. Time in the study room is limited to a 10-15 minute visit to gather books from non-circulating collections or other books from your assigned carrel. Patrons are required to bring selected items back to their reserved seat to read. All handled materials will need to be placed on a return-book cart after use. Handled materials will be sequestered for 24 hours before being returned to the study room.
Please note that we regularly seek and receive feedback from faculty and students about our services and appreciate hearing from you. We have received requests for longer periods of access to the graduate study rooms and will continue to explore ways to address that need. This page will be updated as information evolves. See frequently asked questions.
Pick up materials in your locker or carrel
Students may collect materials from their locker or carrel during a Study-Browse session or by making a separate appointment. To make a separate appointment, please contact your library location:
Use technology
To ensure the health and safety of patrons and staff, public printers, scanners, and computers are not available at this time. Please submit scanning requests through the “Request for Pick-up and Digitization” button found on an item’s catalog entry page. Specialized computers accommodating certain programs are available. Please contact individual library locations to inquire. Office of Information Technology offers printer clusters at locations on campus.
Borrow materials from other libraries
Interlibrary Loan and Borrow Direct services are not currently operating. For materials from other libraries, submit a request through Article Express. To check the status of a request, please email ilsborr@princeton.edu.
Research Assistance
Get specialized support
Services such as Data & Statistical Services, the Stokes Visualization Hub, and the Maps and Geospatial Information Center remain available for consultations remotely. Also available is an 8-month Research Data Stewardship Program designed for early-career researchers.
Apply for publication funding
PUL’s Open Access Publication Fund aims to help Princeton authors, especially graduate students, junior faculty, and researchers in the humanities and social sciences, underwrite publication charges when publishing in fee-based Open Access publications when no other funding sources are available. Applications for funding are now open.
Find your subject librarian
Librarians are available to help you remotely through Zoom for research consultations. Contact your subject librarian to schedule a consultation.
Explore new research tools
The Library provides access to numerous research tools that help you save time and
- Anywhere Access, a browser extension that provides one-click full-text PDF access to open access and library-subscribed content
- Overleaf, an online, collaborative scientific writing and publishing tool that helps speed up the process of writing, editing, and producing scientific papers
- Zotero, a citation manager that saves your sources with bibliographic information and creates works cited, bibliographies, or references page for you
Ask Us
If you have a question and aren’t sure who to ask, you can chat with us or send us an email.
Circulation & Accounts
Return books
All fines are currently suspended. Books may be returned to a book drop at any library location, regardless of the library in which the book usually resides. If you have a large number of books to return, please email the Circulation Desk at fstcirc@princeton.edu to arrange for an appointment. Likewise, if you will not be returning to campus and need to return books, please email fstcirc@princeton.edu and they will advise you on the procedure.
Confirm account is in good standing
If, for a leave of absence, you need a letter to verify that your library account is in good standing, please email the Circulation Desk at fstcirc@princeton.edu, who will send you an email as confirmation.
Library Happenings
Join library events and workshops
Browse our Events and Workshops page to view upcoming virtual library webinars, events, and workshops.
Work at the Library
Graduate students are eligible to work physically or remotely at the libraries. Please see the student employment website for available job postings.
Stay in touch
Subscribe to the PUL e-newsletter to learn more about Library initiatives, resources, and events.
Virtually visit Firestone Library
Explore the inside of Firestone Library with this video.
Enjoy from home
The Library provides many subscriptions or collections that students can enjoy from the comfort of their own home:
New Students
New to Princeton University? View our checklist for new graduate students and our Graduate Student Guide to the Library.
Accessing Materials
Do research online
Library materials available online, such as digitized collections and databases, continue to be accessible. You can use either the EZ Proxy service or the SonicWall Secure Remote Access to connect to the Library. Learn more. You must have an active net ID and password to access electronic Library materials. If you have trouble accessing materials, please report a problem.
Study or browse in the libraries
With our new Study-Browse Service, faculty may use our seat reservation system to book a seat in the libraries and study or browse the stacks. The service is available at all campus libraries. Seats can be reserved for up to eight hours in half hour increments. Seat reservations are available to faculty who have completed training, hold an active PUID, and are authorized by their department to be on campus. Please note that printers and scanners in the libraries will not be available for use this fall.
Access print collections
For print collections, faculty are welcome to request book pick-up or in-house digitization services. To request an item for pick-up or digitization, click the “Request Pick-up or Digitization” button in the catalog record. The book pick-up service is available for faculty who have completed safety training and hold an active PUID.
Use technology
To ensure the health and safety of patrons and staff, public printers, scanners, and computers are not available at this time. Please submit scanning requests through the “Request for Pick-up and Digitization” button found on an item’s catalog entry page. Specialized computers accommodating certain programs are available. Please contact individual library locations to inquire. Office of Information Technology offers printer clusters at locations on campus.
Borrow materials from other libraries
Interlibrary Loan is not currently available. Borrow Direct services have resumed. For materials from other libraries, submit a request through Article Express. To check the status of a request, please email ilsborr@princeton.edu.
Teaching Assistance
Consult with your subject specialist
The librarian assigned to your department is available to create course guides, recommend materials, teach a workshop through Zoom, and virtually meet with your students. You can reach out to them directly by email to request instruction.
Request digitization of course reserves
Need materials digitized for course reserves? Submit a request through Blackboard or Canvas.
- Log into the course management system (Blackboard or Canvas).
- Select your course.
- Click on the “Reserves” link on the course site menu.
- If this is the first time you’ve used Reserves for this course, you will be prompted to choose a semester and click on “Create course.”
- At the top right of the following page, click on “Item tools” and select “Add items.”
- A new page will open with options for adding material to the course. You may select a form (article, chapter, book, file upload, audio, and video) and submit individual requests for items to be placed on reserve.
Requests can also be placed through Ares. To check on the status of your request or add more items to your reserve list, log in to the course management system and select the “Reserve” option. If you have any questions, email the Reserve staff at reserve@princeton.edu. Please note: PUL will not provide print course reserves this fall.
Utilize special collections in courses
Schedule a consultation with our Special Collections department to design a fall virtual class session, or join an open and informal Virtual Visit to ask staff any questions related to special collections such as how to deliver images on teaching platforms, providing live or recorded instruction with materials, or brainstorming teaching ideas.
Research Assistance
Apply for publication funding
PUL’s Open Access Publication Fund aims to help Princeton authors, especially graduate students, junior faculty, and researchers in the humanities and social sciences, underwrite publication charges when publishing in fee-based Open Access publications when no other funding sources are available. Applications for funding are now open.
Recommend a purchase
Use this form to request that the Library purchase a book, journal, magazine, video, dataset, or other material, whether print or electronic.
Ask Us
If you have a question and aren’t sure who to ask, you can chat with us or send us an email.
Library Happenings
Stay in touch
Subscribe to the PUL e-newsletter to learn more about Library initiatives, resources, and events.
Join library events and workshops
Browse our Events and Workshops page to view upcoming virtual library webinars, events, and workshops.
Virtually visit Firestone Library
Explore the inside of Firestone Library with this video.
Enjoy from home
The Library provides many subscriptions or collections that students can enjoy from the comfort of their own home:
New Faculty Members
New to Princeton University? View our checklist for new faculty members.
Harvest University hosted government officials and prominent guests at a special welcome event on July 9, 2021.
