Princeton Public Library finds partner at university

New Jersey Library Association gives university community service award.

By: Jennifer Potash
   Princeton University plays a big role in the daily life of the Princeton Public Library, though its presence is somewhat hidden amid the stacks of books and crowds of patrons.
   But from the shelves at the temporary library at the Princeton Shopping Center to the funding of the new facility now under construction, the university has played a hand in many aspects of the public library’s operation.
   And the university’s contributions have not gone unnoticed in the library world. The New Jersey Library Association recently gave a community service award to the university for its commitment to the public library.
   Princeton Public Library Director Leslie Burger said such relationships between community libraries and university libraries are somewhat unusual.
   Karen Trainer, director of the Princeton University library system, said she and Ms. Burger have a great working relationship.
   "It’s probably because we’re both passionate about what we do," she said.
   Princeton University and its library systems have donated $500,000 toward the new library building, now under construction at Wiggins and Witherspoon streets.
   "That incredibly generous gift really encouraged other donors to give to the capital campaign," Ms. Burger said.
   In addition, the library’s Internet connections are provided free of charge by the university — a gift valued at $75,000 a year, Ms. Burger said.
   And many undergraduate students volunteer as tutors for the library’s after-school extra-help program called Springboard, Ms. Burger said.
   The university fills the public library’s requests for interlibrary loan items despite the university’s withdrawal from the state loan program.
   And the university makes its historical archives relevant to Princeton history available for perusal by members of the local historical society and residents conducting research, Ms. Trainer said.
   The close relations between the public library and the university library, as well as with the libraries at the Princeton Theological Seminary and Institute for Advanced Study, developed following Ms. Burger’s arrival at the public library almost two years ago, Ms. Trainer said.
   The librarians began meeting for lunch once a month, discussing ways to help each other out, Ms. Trainer said.
   So when the Princeton Public Library had to move its entire inventory from the former site on Witherspoon Street to the shopping center, Ms. Trainer immediately offered surplus shelving for the temporary location. As a result, the library’s closing period was greatly shortened during the move, Ms. Burger said.
   Princeton University was one of the library’s most involved patrons with the Princeton Reads program last fall during which the community was asked to read "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee, a professor of creative writing at the university.
   The university could have discouraged Mr. Lee’s participation in the event, because he had only recently arrived as professor in the Council of the Humanities and the Program in Creative Writing when the selection was announced, Ms. Burger said.
   Instead, Princeton University not only encouraged Mr. Lee to participate but also played an active role in the program events, such as contributing numerous copies of Mr. Lee’s book for a book-signing event, she said.
   From the university’s perspective, closer ties with the public library encourages students to go beyond the campus and learn a bit more about the community and its history, Ms. Trainer said.