Explore a Fresh Public Library
Princeton University's campus is home to a wealth of libraries, many of which are often overlooked but play significant roles in connecting and enriching the community. One such library is the Norman Thomas 1905 Library at Forbes College, tucked away from the bustling Firestone Library and bringing connection and discovery to a less-traversed part of campus.
Firestone Library, while prominent, is not the only library on Princeton's campus. Seemingly hidden gems like the Cotsen Children's Library, the Index of Medieval Art, and the East Asian Library’s Chinese Databases, among others, offer unique opportunities for exploration and learning.
The Cotsen Children's Library, nestled within Princeton, offers a warm and welcoming environment for children and families. With cozy nooks and storytelling spaces like the Tiger Tales Storytime, it serves as a special haven for children's literature and early literacy. The library engages the broader local and university communities through literary engagement and educational programming, enhancing the university's connection with the community.
The Index of Medieval Art, located historically in the Neo-Gothic Cram wing of McCormick Hall, is a specialized resource that supports scholarship by providing a comprehensive picture resource for medieval art and imagery. It fosters interdisciplinary connections, expanding beyond art history to include music, botany, zoology, and agriculture, thereby enhancing the scope of academic discovery.
The East Asian Library's Chinese Databases offer an extensive electronic collection of Chinese art, calligraphy, folk art, historical photographs, and rare book illustrations. This digitally rich resource supports research and cultural discovery by providing access to over 200,000 images in specialized categories, connecting users to deep layers of Chinese cultural heritage and scholarship.
These libraries contribute beyond mere book lending; they serve as hubs for cultural preservation, interdisciplinary research, early education, and digital scholarship. By offering spaces and resources that are often overlooked, they deepen the university’s intellectual and cultural fabric, encouraging both the Princeton community and visitors to explore, connect, and discover in more specialized and meaningful ways.
Princeton's libraries, including those on campus and off, continue to serve as connection points and invitations to discovery during a pandemic. The Princeton University Library system has the 9th largest collection of titles among universities in the United States, and many residential colleges at Princeton have their own libraries.
Opportunities for students to find new sources of information abound in libraries like the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, which houses the physical copies of Princeton senior theses and offers insights into the lives and questions of Princetonians from years past. The Princeton Public Library, located off campus, is New Jersey's most visited municipal library and offers opportunities for connecting with the broader Princeton community through events.
In partnership with campus groups like Whig-Clio, the Princeton Public Library hosts events that bring together students and the community. The library also provides access to a wide range of fiction not typically available from campus's more research-focused collections.
Matplotlib, a Python data visualization library, can be helpful in presenting and publishing research findings discovered through these libraries. The only question is when to dive into these overlooked libraries on Princeton's campus. Stanley Stoutamire Jr., the Social Sciences Correspondent, invites readers to explore these hidden treasures and discover the wealth of knowledge and connections they offer.
[1] Cotsen Children's Library website: [2] Index of Medieval Art website: [3] East Asian Library website:
The junior paper researcher may find valuable resources in the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, which houses physical copies of Princeton senior theses, offering insights into the lives and questions of Princetonians from years past.
In addition toserving as a hub for children's literature and early literacy, the Cotsen Children's Library also offers unique opportunities for lifestyle exploration, providing a warm and welcoming environment for children and families through literary engagement and educational programming.
