Princeton residents express opposition to eliminating free parking at library

Princeton Public Library cardholders will no longer have access to free parking at the Spring Street Garage if an agreement under consideration by the Princeton Council passes. The Princeton Council finance committee plans to discontinue free parking in exchange for funding an additional $149,000 for the library’s budget. The impasse has largely focused on the possible elimination of free parking, with some residents calling for the municipality to continue the free parking program, citing its popularity and importance for the community. 

Amid rising healthcare benefit costs and other increasing prices, the Princeton Public Library requested a budget increase of $149,000 at the Princeton Council meeting on April 13. The increased allocation from the municipality would help offset rises in operating costs like utilities and facility maintenance, according to Princeton Public Library Board of Trustees President Christopher Van Buren ’84. The town’s 2026 budget proposal for the library totaled $4.98 million. 

The municipality funds about 75 percent of the library’s expenses, while private donors fund the other 25 percent. However, Van Buren emphasized that these private funds are “typically variable and often designated for specific purposes, making them an important supplement, but not a substitute, for stable municipal support.” 

“Private funding alone cannot reliably cover core operating expenses such as staffing, utilities, and building maintenance,” Van Buren wrote in a statement to The Daily Princetonian. “Public funding remains essential to sustaining consistent, equitable service for all residents.”

In response, the Princeton Council finance committee said that the library would receive the increased funding in exchange for the elimination of free two-hour parking at Spring Street Garage. Alternatively, if free parking were only cut for out-of-town cardholders, the library would receive $50,000 in additional funding. Currently, all cardholders are able to validate their parking for up to two hours at the library. 

The Princeton Public Library draws over 740,000 people each year, according to Van Buren. Many library-goers highlighted the difficulty of finding free parking around downtown Princeton, and said that they would come to the library less if the validated parking service were removed. 

“It seems like a shame, since a big part of the importance of libraries is that it’s a welcoming space, and if the parking becomes charged, that makes it much harder for people to come here if they have to spend money,” Rachel Bierman, a visitor at the library, told the ‘Prince.’

“A lot of times, it is hard to find parking in town, especially when it gets busy,” Vihaan Singh, a member of the library’s Teen Advisory Board who frequently studies at the library, told the ‘Prince.’ “The free parking program really is super helpful when it comes to when we bring guests, and we’re trying to bring them to town on a busy day,” Singh said. “We can’t find parking anywhere, so we have to go into the library.” 

“If it did get cut, there would be a lot of people like me who would be upset, in the sense that you’ve now just taken away one of the most valuable resources that the library offers, aside from the building and all the opportunities themselves,” he continued. 

Bierman also emphasized the historic role of libraries as being a welcoming space for marginalized communities, including economically disadvantaged and homeless people. “I feel like adding parking charges would eliminate some of what the point of libraries is for the community,” she said.

Community members expressed dismay over the possible loss of free parking in particular, and said they hope the budget cuts could come from elsewhere.

“I think the budgeting cuts could come from somewhere else, especially because the library helps every family in Princeton,” Sophie Blejwas, a member of the Teen Advisory Board, told the ‘Prince.’

“The library already gets so much money compared to other libraries I’ve been to — there’s a whole floor just for computers — so I think it’s really up to the board to prioritize how they’re spending the money,” Bierman added. 

Some said that the library also provides necessary services for community members. According to Van Buren, the Princeton Public Library is the only place that provides public restrooms and telephones, and is the only warming and cooling center open on evenings and weekends. 

“Growing up, I went to all the programs and everything … the library especially helps people who don’t have resources at home to be able to have Wi-Fi, who can’t have lots of literature accessible for their children,” Blejwas added. 

As of January 2026, the library has already cut operating hours due to budget constraints, closing at 8 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

According to Van Buren, the library has already cut other services, including higher-cost health insurance plans and Kanopy streaming services, and will be “giving back under utilized municipal parking permits.” 

“If additional funding is not provided, the library would need to draw from its reserves to maintain current service levels and open hours. This is not a sustainable long-term solution,” Van Buren wrote.

Matt Donahue, who often visits Princeton from Pennington, says it is already difficult to find parking in the area, and he pays for parking when he is in town.

“I can’t imagine having less parking options available; doesn’t sound like smart business,” Donahue told the ‘Prince.’ 

“The free parking is really great because living in Princeton, your taxes go to pay for the library,” Blejwas said. “So if you have to pay extra to access that, it’s kind of hypocritical — your taxes are paying for [parking], and you’re not really allowed to use it unless you pay for it.” 

The Princeton Council will meet on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. to discuss the 2026 municipal budget. 

Elizabeth Hu is a senior News writer, assistant head Copy editor, associate Data editor, staff Podcast producer, and contributing Features writer from Houston. She can be reached at exh[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

Sena Chang is the associate News editor for the ‘Prince’ leading investigations. She is from Japan and South Korea, and she often covers local politics and student life. She can be reached at sena[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

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