Commons Library remains unexplored by students ahead of Spring 2026 grand opening

Princeton’s Commons Library quietly opened on Nov. 3 and plans to have a grand opening in Spring 2026. Only about 20 to 25 students have visited the new library, according to Manager of Commons Events & Programming Corina Bardoff, which she says is due to a lack of advertisement.

The library, located in the Environmental Studies and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (ES & SEAS) complex north of Stadium Drive, contains 10 study rooms across three floors.

Sam Miller ’26 told The Daily Princetonian that, as an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major, the library provides a convenient space to do work done between his labs.

“I’ve just started working here the last few weeks,” Miller told the ‘Prince.’ “I’m really impressed with a lot of the individual working spaces that they’ve set up, so it’s starting to work its way into being a more typical space for me to do work here.”

Despite the close proximity to many engineering classrooms, Miller noted the space is largely empty. The library quietly opened, leaving many unaware of its existence.

Zachary Butler ’29 told the ‘Prince’ that he did not know about the Commons Library but was interested in the study rooms, which hold two to eight people.

“I’m a big study group type of person, so I’m excited to have new alternatives to the Firestone study rooms because those are always taken up.” He added that the Commons Library is “closer to a lot of [my] classes as a prospective Electrical and Computer Engineering major.”

Another factor that may be keeping students from the library is its limited hours. Currently, the Commons Library is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is closed on the weekends. After their official grand opening, the library will be open until 8 p.m., including during weekends.

Bardoff said the unique architecture of the library was designed with students in mind.

“The whole space is really thoughtfully designed to get lots of natural light, the ceilings are this beautiful wood that’s designed to be peaceful and help [students] feel creative and calm. I think there are a lot of little nooks to sit and be cozy in the library,” she said.

The library will also host programs. One, “Responsible AI: Evaluation and Iterative Development with AI” will take place on Dec. 10 in one of the library’s classrooms.

The exact date of the Commons Library grand opening has yet to be shared.