Princeton University Library (PUL) has scaled back operational hours for several branches for the fall semester, citing ongoing financial pressures. The Architecture, East Asian, Lewis Science, and Mendel Music libraries have all reduced late evening and weekend hours.
Hours are unchanged at Firestone Library, the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, and the Stokes Library.
A PUL spokesperson told The Daily Princetonian that the library was not currently planning further reductions. “We took a branch-by-branch, data-informed approach, and so the changes differ in each location,” they wrote.
These changes come amidst the discontinuation of Wintersession and other incremental cuts to University services, as departments have also been asked to prepare for budget reductions in an effort to reduce spending.
All branch libraries have been asked to reduce student staffing hours by 50 percent due to budget cuts, an Architecture Library supervisor told student employees in an email over the summer.
At the Architecture Library, students will only staff the opening shift and lunch hour, and there will only be one student per shift. The email also explained that “weekly hours will be capped at 6 hours per person ... [and] no new students will be hired for the fall semester.” The Architecture Library is now closed on Saturdays and shuts its doors at 10 p.m. most of the week, as opposed to midnight last semester.
Raymond Yang ’27, who works at the East Asian Library, told the ‘Prince’ that his weekly hours have been reduced from nine to six, and that the library reduced the number of student workers from 20 to 12.
The East Asian Library now opens at 11 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m., and closes at 10 p.m. instead of 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The branch has also cut all of its Saturday hours and has more limited hours on Sundays.
“I wish that our jobs were more secure. I understand the budget cuts are obviously inevitable, considering our current administration, but some people were definitely cut,” Yang said.
University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote in a statement to the ‘Prince’ that “some changes to available hours or positions may occur as units review their programming and services amid budget constraints.”
One student who works at the Mendel Music Library, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of losing their job, told the ‘Prince’ that the library has already reduced student staff from around 20 student workers to 14.
The Mendel Music Library has not yet set the student worker schedules for the semester and is currently operating on a temporary schedule, according to the student.
Angel Tang ’27, who also works at Mendel, told the ‘Prince’ that she used to work closing shifts when Mendel was open until midnight on weekdays. Now, Mendel closes at 9 p.m., which she said will negatively impact students who like to do work late at night in the library.
“I feel like a lot of us do work later because we all have class from 9 to 4,” she said.
The Mendel Music Library now opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays instead of 8:30 a.m., and closes at 9 p.m., instead of 12 a.m. It is closed on Saturdays and has more limited hours on Sundays.
Several students told the ‘Prince’ they felt unsupported through the change and had not been offered alternative employment opportunities. “I wish there would be an option for us to get priority in getting other types of jobs that might open up on campus,” the student working at Mendel Music Library said.
This sentiment was shared among other student workers. Tryphena Awuah ’26 told the ‘Prince’ that the Architecture Library reduced her scheduled hours from 15–20 hours a week to six hours a week. Awuah, who previously held a student manager position, would often pick up other students’ shifts, working up to 30 hours a week.
“Student hours are things that people need to support and sustain themselves here,” she told the ‘Prince.’
The Architecture Library now closes at 10 p.m. on weekdays instead of 12 a.m., and is also closed on Saturdays and has more limited hours on Sundays.
Student workers also expressed frustration with the change in hours, including cuts on weekends and in the late evening.
Anuja Magdum ’26 decided to leave her job at the Lewis Science and Engineering Library’s Makerspace following the change in hours, since she had primarily worked on Saturdays. The branch is now closed all weekend and closes earlier on weeknights, with the Makerspace also opening four hours later at 2 p.m. each weekday.
Magdum told the ‘Prince’ that the Makerspace is already experiencing an increase in crowding and reduced printer availability following the decreased hours.
“I think it would have made more sense for them to shift those hours and have them open on the weekends, when people are more available and have time to go to the Makerspace, and maybe not open during the week when people have class,” she said.
“There’s just overall dissatisfaction with the way that the hours have been cut because we’re not open at all on Saturdays,” Yang said, referring to the East Asian Library. Firestone and Stokes libraries are now the only libraries open on Saturdays.
According to a press release by PUL, the library administration will monitor feedback and usage patterns during the fall semester and determine if any adjustments are necessary and feasible based on available resources.
Full hours for all University Libraries are available online through the PUL website.
Hannah Gabelnick is a senior News writer for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Buffalo, N.Y. and typically covers academic policy, institutional legacy, and health.
Kian Petlin contributed reporting.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Preview and Staff Picks: Men’s soccer vs. Rutgers
Harrison Blank, Joseph Uglialoro, and Alex Beverton-SmithIn their first matchup of the season, the Tigers face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 5 at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. The team will hope to have a positive start to the year against their state rivals.
In their first matchup of the season, the Tigers face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 5 at Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium. The team will hope to have a positive start to the year against their state rivals.
Fall takes flight: Men’s sports preview
Doug Schwartz and Lucas NorMen’s sports had mixed success in 2024, some teams took home championships whilst others floundered. Here’s what to expect in 2025.
Men’s sports had mixed success in 2024, some teams took home championships whilst others floundered. Here’s what to expect in 2025.
University student robbed outside of Bloomberg Hall
Luke GrippoOn Wednesday evening, a Princeton student reported being the victim of a robbery that occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
On Wednesday evening, a Princeton student reported being the victim of a robbery that occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.