Library Services

The Robert W. Van Houten Library, NJIT’s main university library, is located in the Central Avenue Building (CAB). It serves as the primary space for research, study, and access to both physical collections and online resources. Established in 1997, the Information Commons includes more than 100 computer workstations and has since expanded to include the Information Training Lab, the Leir Data Observatory, and the IST Service Desk.

The Barbara and Leonard Littman Architecture & Design Library, a branch library located in Weston Hall, supports architecture, art, and design disciplines. Its collections include books, journals, maps, architectural drawings, media, and models in both digital and physical formats. The Littman Library also houses the Digital Scholarship Lab, the Mostoller Reading Room, and the Materials Library, which features material samples for hands-on learning.

Collections

The NJIT Library maintains a collection of more than 950,000 print and electronic books, journals, media, dissertations and theses, and special collections and archives. Over 90 percent of the materials budget is dedicated to electronic resources, providing 24/7 access across a wide range of disciplines.

Key online resources include ACM Digital Library, Academic Search Premier, American Chemical Society (ACS), Artstor, ASTM Compass, Avery Index, BCC Research, IEEE Xplore, JoVE, JSTOR, Kanopy, New York Times Online, O’Reilly for Higher Education, ProQuest One Academic, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Scopus, SPIE Digital Library, Sage Data, Wall Street Journal, Web of Science, and Wiley Online Library, among many others.

Archival and primary source materials are available through the library’s Digital Commons institutional repository or by contacting the Archivist directly. A centralized discovery portal enables a single search across most electronic resources. Subject liaison librarians are available to assist with navigating both general and subject-specific databases.

Learning Spaces

The library supports student success through a variety of individual and collaborative learning environments. These include designated silent study areas and reservable group study rooms equipped with large display monitors.

Additional spaces include the Collaborative Study Space, designed for project-based teamwork, and the Leir Data Observatory, a high-tech environment supporting data-driven learning and research. The Van Houten Library lobby also features an IST-managed Laptop Lending Kiosk, where students may borrow laptops and chargers for up to four hours for use anywhere on campus.

Getting Started

Access to library resources begins at either the Van Houten Library or the Littman Library home page. Students, faculty, and staff can explore literature in engineering, science, computing, management, mathematics, architecture, design, and other fields through electronic books, electronic databases, the discovery portal (online catalog), journals, newspapers,  research guides, streaming media, and theses and dissertations.

Subject liaison librarians are readily available to help users navigate research pathways. To borrow print materials, including new titles, leisure reading (“casual reads”), or academic books, users should present their NJIT ID at the Information Service Desk.

Research and Instruction

Librarians provide instruction and research consultations across all subject areas to support effective discovery and use of scholarly literature. Assistance is available in person, by phone, via email, and through live chat or text during designated hours.

For those unsure where to begin, the library offers a wide range of research guides covering topics such as starting a research project, discipline-specific resources, citation management tools, open access publishing, and data management.

Resources Beyond NJIT

Students, faculty, and staff may supplement NJIT’s collections through Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services at no cost. Article requests are typically fulfilled within 24 hours.

Additional free resources are available at nearby institutions within walking distance, including Rutgers University libraries (John Cotton Dan Library and George F. Smith Health Sciences Library) and the Newark Public Library, as well as libraries at other academic institutions across New Jersey.

Special Collections and Archives

The Van Houten Library’s Rare Book Room preserves rare and unique materials related to NJIT and Newark’s industrial history. Holdings include personal papers, objects, drawings, and books associated with Edward Weston, a scientist, prolific inventor, and founding member of the university’s board of trustees.

NJIT-related materials include yearbooks, course catalogs, and papers donated by alumni and faculty. Rare Book Room materials are available by appointment to scholars and others interested in the history of science and technology. NJIT’s Digital Commons institutional repository provides access to scholarly output, including electronic dissertations and selected digitized archival collections.

Contact Us

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