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Princeton Public Library

4.6 (58 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Free Private Study rooms - online booking by the hour
Golda F.

Need a place to study, research, relax, or meet with co-workers? This is the place! Princeton Public Library is the best library I've ever had the privilege of enjoying. The best part about this one, they are keeping up with the times! It provides an excellent place to co-work with everything you need from a business center and library. I like to meet friends, study partners, and co-workers in their study rooms. They are private and quiet. They also have conference rooms for rent for either a non-profit or profit rate. If you are a member of the community, come here, grab a book, get a coffee at the cafe, and relax!

The back of the library
Ed D.

This library is outstanding. Very friendly workers, nice quiet rooms to study as well as a nice wide variety of computers that one can use. I have been going there for many years and I have yet to have any problems. I like how friendly and professional the workers are, very helpful and very kind. Highly recommended place to go to. Hopefully when this pandemic subsided, they'll be open longer and open up the nice cafe, but a wonderful place. Highly recommended

Tech center
Ashish J.

Quite a nice library with several quiet rooms and a large conference room for bigger meetings. You need to make reservations at the second floor reception desk. Public parking in the rear, though paid street parking is also readily available. What impressed me the most is that they really have a nice "tech center" with lots of Macs to get your work done. Plus, a coffee place inside gives a nice informal feel as well. In fact, this library is quite bright with lots of natural light.

Aquarium
Susan W.

There is so much to do at Princeton Library. At the beginning of every week I always look to see what amazing events the library has planned for the people who are smart enough to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. We go for music class, story time, lecture series and more! The librarians are amazingly helpful and patient and they have private rooms for every thing you can imagine. The little cafe has great food and the staff that works it are so nice!

P J.

"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library," - a quote by Borges that is written on the side of the building. Yes - a paradise of a public library that is community-oriented, friendly, resourceful, and impeccably designed.

Community events bulletin board. Grab a flyer and pick an event that might strike your interest. Great if you're new in town! (1/14/2018)
Jeffrey D.

Honestly, I couldn't cite a visit where I wasn't totally dissatisfied coming to this library, but as what most people would say and praise, Princeton Public Library is the quintessential modern library around, even when it comes to our state of New Jersey! One of the other appeals that lures me into visiting Princeton, as well as to other positive attributes, the library at the heart of the town welcomes all, whether it's Princetonians/residents, people who live nearby, or travelers. Even at an angle outside, you can slightly see an open book at the roof, giving proof this is the mecca of learning. PPL is situated in Princeton's Witherspoon St (just like with Nassau St, it's the other "Main St" in town), right in front of the town's popular restaurants, with 80% of the appealing boutiques, other restaurants/food shops/salons/features locals and travelers love, all a ten minute walk away. Plus, it's a popular congregating area for those seeking shelter or a venue to cool off, or warm up. Hinds Plaza is right outside if you'd want to take a breather outside, with chairs and tables giving you a glimpse of the town's finest. Inside, you're greeted with many of the amenities the library takes pride in, such as a cafe, Terra Libri, which in short, gives you freshly baked goods all locally sourced in Princeton/area, and NJ, plus, if you enjoy Mediterrea and Teresa Caffe, it's related since it's owned by the same managing group, even with Terra Momo giving the pastries/bread. Further inside, there's Happy World, a unique mosaic of thousands of smaller artwork and artifacts created by an artist, gives the library some unique life, I love seeing it every visit. Usually some other artists get their work featured in the library. Near the other pair of doors, there's the community events bulletin, offering events exclusive for the library, such as arts and crafts, lectures and book signings, daily homework help from Princeton U students, film presentations, and more to stimulate culture and enrichment. The other tier would be events that are going in Princeton/surrounding area, and if you're someone who loves to mingle or get involved with the community at large, this is your essential guide! You can either look for: meet ups with the mayor, lectures, historical research, and many other events the townsfolk would host. Going into the library proper, it's easy to go head over heels over the presentation offered here. Beautifully arranged selections of books, a dedicated section for children/teens (3rd Floor), audio cds/audio books, internet access, a fireplace (in wintertime/cold Fall), tables with lamps, "quiet rooms", conference rooms, and a wide arrange of literature. This is also one of the few public libraries I've seen in NJ that offers foreign language books, and it comes in: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese, nowhere else have I've spotted this, and I'm thrilled to finally be at ease to read German literature, even French! If you actually live (and prove) you live in Princeton proper (neighbors like Princeton Junction (West Windsor) or Princeton Meadows (Plainsboro) don't count), you can enjoy the perks of a free library card, same for teachers, students, and other persons of interest. Maybe if I'd visit more often, I'll look into it, especially for their online catalogue. The staff can be helpful, and receptive when it comes to academic work, to which I'm grateful for. I'm thrilled with my visits here, and overall, it's 110% the best library in New Jersey, and if distance wasn't an issue to me, I'd visit more often. Gladly donated to keep the hope for education alive for our youth, and I've yet discovered a flaw in this library, but I'm glad to enrich my mind here!

Taken by Amy Kearns

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4 months ago

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It's a nice quiet place. Really encourages me to get my work done, especially when I sit outside!

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Enjoyable place to stop and read. Has a book store/ cafe feel - right in the center of town and next to the Witherspoon grill and parking..

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Grownups chattering, laughing, kids running, baby wailing, it's a busy library. There are some quieter spots but are usually taken quickly.

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Ask the Community - Princeton Public Library

Review Highlights - Princeton Public Library

Their wall of happy tiles (all created by community members) is another testament to their local engagement.

Mentioned in 10 reviews

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Frist Campus Center - Chicken bacon ranch straight in my tummy

Frist Campus Center

4.7(6 reviews)
0.4 mi
$

As a senior graduating this year, I have nothing but gratitude for both the First Campus Center…read morelate meal hall and also the tireless workers that staff it. A hub for student activity and late night stragglers, the Princeton student experience would not be the same without Frist. Late meal credits here for the first two years were incredibly clutch lol. Highly recommend the Sushi, Chipotle Bowls, or even something from the Asian station. The fried chicken sandwich, Mozzarella sticks, and french fries are also to die for. Seating can be limited during rush hours (especially during the school year around 7:30-9pm), and the bathrooms are located in the basement so that can be a pain. Other than that though, I'll be sorely missing Frist late meal gallery in the months to come after I leave the orange bubble. Long live late meal.

Quite possibly in the upper echelons of dining in the greater Princeton area. When accessibility is…read moreconsidered for students, as well as affordability for those on the dining plan, the options at Frist are quite honestly hard to beat. Although at first seeming like that of a typical food court, the food at Frist manages to always surpass your expectations. The Pizza slices are outrageous, clocking in at over a pound for a less than four dollar slice. The fries and burger from the grill are greasy and indulgent enough to satisfy the naughtiest of my cravings, and the carne asada from the burrito station quite literally knocked my socks off the first few bites. What must not be missed are the David's cookies, on display in a bright case for all to see. At the beginning of a busy night, hundreds of these cookies are piled in only to be soon devoured by hungry underclassmen. These cookies have single handedly defined my Princeton experience. By far the best commercially available chocolate chunk cookie I've even, some of my best nights and worst nights on campus have been accompanied by anywhere from 3-8 of these morsels of heaven. A bite of these cookies causes minor cookiegasm in the consumer, and is sure to remind any faint cookie connoisseur what true love is. As a rising upperclassmen who will lose the infamous "Late Meal" benefit of the dining plan, I will by far miss these cookies the most. Lastly, the workers are great. They're there to serve you food and make sure you keep a smile on my face. A few days ago, I decided to risk it for the biscuit and go for the Kathi Roll from the grill (forking DELICIOUS). The grill attendant picked one up from the tray and tossed it on the flame, only soon to diagnose it as too stale to serve. With the gusto of Curry shooting from three, he picked that jawn up with his tongs and yeeted it straight across the room without a second thought, leaving me baffled and amazed. Last night, the grill attendant deviously tried to bribe me for my 16 inch cheesesteak, what a sly guy!! Just today, the cashier went through her typical rounds of asking me how many cookies I was carrying out in the plain, brown, nondescript Frist cookie bag. Too embarrassed to share the real number I was harboring, I went with a casual five. With a grin on her face, she remarked "I don't care how many you got in there Sugar, do well on your exams." This attitude is precisely what makes Frist the haven it is. Quick, delicious, accessible, and affordable food for students who sometimes just need to indulge in something that they'll feel sitting in their stomach for hours to come. For better or for worse, much of my first two years at Princeton will be remembered by late nights at Frist winding down on the rickety wooden chairs with some good nomz to keep me going.

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Frist Campus Center - The chocolate chunk slaps me silly, but I'll always go for a double chocolate or two just to keep it spicy

The chocolate chunk slaps me silly, but I'll always go for a double chocolate or two just to keep it spicy

Frist Campus Center - Pasta!

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Pasta!

Princeton Public Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

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