Princeton University Library
Firestone Library opened its doors in 1948 as the first large American university library constructed after World War II. Architects Robert B. O'Connor and Walter H. Kilham Jr. designed the building to serve a rapidly expanding student body. Roughly 1.5 million volumes moved during the summer of 1948 from East Pyne Hall, which had served as the University's main library until that point. The structure stood as a symbol of post-war academic growth and ambition. It was named after tire magnate Harvey Firestone, whose donation funded the project.
The Department of Special Collections houses significant holdings including the Scheide Library. This collection became a permanent part of the library following the death of William H. Scheide. It marks the largest gift in the University's history. The Cotsen Children's Library arrived in 1997 as an extensive collection presented by owner Lloyd E. Cotsen. Notable items include the autographed manuscript of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. A vellum fragment of an original Gutenberg Bible also resides within these rare archives alongside papers from Mario Vargas Llosa and Toni Morrison.
Since the 1970s, the library has collected Latin American and Spanish ephemera systematically. This effort documents political developments using non-governmental primary sources rather than official government records. In early 2015, the Digital Archive of Latin American and Caribbean Ephemera became available to researchers. A grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources funded this digitization project. The archive expands access to items previously not catalogued in sub-collections or microfilmed formats.
Volumes relating to many academic subjects now reside at approximately a dozen other library buildings around campus. Lewis Science Library opened in the Fall of 2008 and was designed by Frank Gehry. This building consolidates research collections for physical and life sciences along with maps and geospatial information. Princeton participates in the Research Collections and Preservation Consortium (ReCAP) alongside Columbia Libraries, Harvard Library, and New York Public Library. Two annexes located at the Forrestal campus store volumes less frequently used by daily patrons.
Currently only registered students, alumni, university faculty, staff, their spouses, domestic partners, and dependents receive open free access. Students of Princeton Theological Seminary and the Institute for Advanced Study also hold borrowing privileges. Patrons of the Princeton Public Library may borrow daily access to Firestone under specific conditions. Non-university patrons generally use the library for research without borrowing rights. These external users must purchase an access card to enter and utilize the facilities.
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Common questions
When did Firestone Library open its doors?
Firestone Library opened its doors in 1948 as the first large American university library constructed after World War II. Roughly 1.5 million volumes moved during the summer of 1948 from East Pyne Hall to this new facility.
Who funded the construction of Princeton University Library Firestone Building?
The building was named after tire magnate Harvey Firestone whose donation funded the project. Architects Robert B. O'Connor and Walter H. Kilham Jr. designed the structure to serve a rapidly expanding student body.
What is inside the Department of Special Collections at Princeton University Library?
The Department of Special Collections houses significant holdings including the Scheide Library which became permanent following the death of William H. Scheide. It also contains the Cotsen Children's Library arrived in 1997 with notable items like the autographed manuscript of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
How does Princeton University Library collect Latin American ephemera since the 1970s?
Since the 1970s the library has collected Latin American and Spanish ephemera systematically using non-governmental primary sources rather than official government records. In early 2015 the Digital Archive of Latin American and Caribbean Ephemera became available to researchers thanks to a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
Which buildings house volumes for many academic subjects outside Firestone Library?
Volumes relating to many academic subjects now reside at approximately a dozen other library buildings around campus including Lewis Science Library opened in the Fall of 2008. Two annexes located at the Forrestal campus store volumes less frequently used by daily patrons.