Explanation on the Uncommon Literature and Exceptional Archives
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The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) at Princeton University is a treasure trove of knowledge, housing a diverse collection that spans five millennia and five continents. With around 300,000 rare or significant printed works, the RBSC offers a wealth of resources for researchers.
To make the most of your visit, here are some key tips and tricks to help you access and locate materials in the RBSC:
- Review the Special Collections catalog and guides online before visiting: Princeton University Library's Special Collections website provides highlights and guidance on their rare books, manuscripts, and archives to help identify relevant materials in advance.
- Understand that materials are non-circulating and require in-person consultation: Rare and special collections typically cannot be checked out. You will need to access them in the reading room by requesting items through library staff.
- Contact staff or use reference services to identify and request materials ahead of time: Librarians and curators can help with specific holdings and advise on how to request access efficiently in the RBSC.
- Plan for appointments and bring necessary identification: Some special collections departments require appointments or registration for access, so scheduling ahead ensures availability.
- Familiarize yourself with reading room rules and handling guidelines to protect fragile or unique materials.
- Materials should be requested ahead of time. This can take up to two days for materials stored off-site, but will ensure they are ready upon arrival.
- Retrieval of materials from the vault typically takes 20-30 minutes. Requesting material ahead of time can cut the wait time to 2-3 minutes.
- The RBSC Reading Room does not have lockers for personal belongings. Items must be stored in C-Floor lockers before signing in.
- Pens are not permitted in the RBSC Reading Room. Laptops, phones, pencils, and notebooks can be brought inside, but everything else must be stored in C-Floor lockers before signing in.
- Bags are not allowed in the RBSC Reading Room. Only laptops, phones, pencils, notebooks, and a few other items are permitted.
- Undergraduates have nearly complete access to the RBSC collections.
- The RBSC has two types of databases: core databases and subject-specific databases. The Catalog, a core database, covers all of the RBSC printed materials, maps, and graphic art. The Library Finding Aids, another core database, provides detailed information about each object in the collections and allows searching by collection or topic.
- Consultations with RBSC librarians can be arranged. They are available to help students navigate the catalogs and locate materials.
- RBSC materials are not allowed to leave the Reading Room. A librarian on duty will bring your material into the Reading Room when you arrive, and will return the material to the shelf when you leave.
- The RBSC has recently acquired a handwritten journal from 1774, which was previously unknown to academics.
While the search results specifically highlight Princeton's Special Collections in general, these common best practices for accessing rare book and special collections apply to Princeton RBSC as well since they are part of the library's offerings.
If you want precise instructions or access policies, visiting Princeton’s Special Collections official site or contacting their staff directly is recommended.
For more information, visit Princeton University Library's Special Collections website.
- To delve deeper into specific topics, junior researchers might find it beneficial to explore the education-and-self-development section of Princeton University Library's Special Collections website, as it houses a wealth of resources that could aid in their research.
- When embracing a lifestyle focused on ongoing learning and technology, venturing into the realm of Princeton University's Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC) could offer unique research resources, such as the 1774 handwritten journal recently acquired by the RBSC, expanding one's understanding of history and knowledge.
