Library Services

The Robert W. Van Houten Library, NJIT’s university library, is located in the Central Avenue Building (CAB) and serves as the primary facility for researching, studying, and browsing physical materials and online resources. In 1997, the Van Houten Library created the Information Commons, a computer lab with over 100+ computer workstations. Today, it also houses the Information Training Lab, the Leir Data Observatory, and the IST Service Desk.

The Barbara and Leonard Littman Architecture & Design Library, a university library branch, is located in Weston Hall. It maintains a digital and physical core collection of materials on architecture, art, and design: books, journals, maps, architectural drawings, various media, and models. The Littman Library also houses the Digital Scholarship Lab, Mostoller Reading Room, and Materials Library, a collection of materials samples.

Collection

The library collection comprises over 600,000 volumes of print books and electronic books, journals, media, dissertations/theses, and special collections/archives. The library spends over 95% of its materials budget on acquiring electronic resources accessible anytime and anywhere covering a variety of subjects. Selected online resources include ACM Digital Library, Academic Search Premier, Artstor, ASTM Compass, Avery Index, Business Source Premier, Factiva, IEEE Xplore, JSTOR, New York Times Online, ProQuest Academic Complete Ebook Central, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Scopus, SPIE Digital Library, Statista Expert, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, and many more. Archival materials for primary source research can be found on our library website through the Digital Commons institutional repository or by contacting the Archivist. A centralized "search all" portal delivers a single search experience for most electronic library resources. Contact any of our professional librarians for help to navigate these general and subject-specific databases.

Learning Spaces

The library promotes student success by offering a variety of individual and collaborative study spaces throughout the NJIT Library, including designated silent study areas and group study rooms with large display monitors for collaborative work. Learn more on our Library Services page. The Collaborative Study Space provides flexible and synergistic spaces for students to work on projects and discover challenges and solutions. The Leir Data Observatory provides a dedicated high-tech space for students and faculty to study data science mutually. The Lobby of the Van Houten Library houses an IST managed Laptop Lending Kiosk with laptops and chargers for students to borrow for four (4) hours to use anywhere on campus.

Getting Started

Access to print and digital resources starts at the Van Houten Library or the Littman Library home page. Access to literature in engineering, science, computer science, management, mathematics, architecture, design, and other subject areas is provided by various electronic databases, discovery portal (online catalog), journals, and research guides. Professional librarians are readily available to help students to navigate research pathways. To borrow materials from the print collection – new books, “casual reads,” or academic books, students should present their NJIT ID at the Circulation Desk.

Research and Instruction

Professional librarians provide instruction and consultation in all subject areas to enhance the student, faculty, and staff’s ability to efficiently research scholarly literature. Research help is available in person, by phone, via email, and live chat or text during selected hours. 

If patrons are unsure where to begin, they can check out our many research guides, which cover topics such as “Starting Your Research,” discipline-specific resources, using a citation manager, and more. 

Resources Beyond NJIT

Students, faculty, and staff may supplement NJIT library resources by borrowing materials, free of charge, using Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services. Article requests are typically fulfilled within 24 hours. Other resources provided free to students are available through the New Jersey Academic Library Network (NJALN) via Primo Discovery, Rutgers University – John Cotton Dana Library, and the George F. Smith Health Sciences Library, the Newark Public Library, and other state colleges and universities in New Jersey.

Special Collections and Archives

The Van Houten Library's Rare Book Room holds a variety of rare and special materials relating to the institution and Newark industry. These include personal papers, objects, drawings, and books belonging to Edward Weston, a scientist, prolific inventor, and founding member of the university’s board of trustees. Materials related to NJIT include yearbooks, course catalogs, and papers donated by alumni and faculty alike. Materials in the Rare Book Room are available by appointment to scholars and others interested in the history of science and technology. NJIT’s Digital Commons is an institutional repository of NJIT’s scholarly products, such as electronic dissertations and some digitized collections from the archive.

Contact Us

Central Avenue Building                    Weston Hall
(973) 596-3206                                  (973) 596-3083
http://library.njit.edu                           http://archlib.njit.edu