The Friends of the Princeton University Library (FPUL) offer short-term Library Research Grants each year to support scholarly work utilizing Princeton University’s unique and special collections. These grants are designed to promote the use of archives, manuscripts, rare books, and other distinct materials across the Library’s holdings, including the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, the Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology, and the East Asian Library (Gest Collection). Purpose and Scope FPUL Research Grants provide funding to defray travel and living expenses for scholars visiting Princeton to work directly with the Library’s rare and distinctive collections. Grants are intended to enable researchers to pursue original, focused projects that depend on access to these unique materials. Each grant is valued at up to $6,000, with additional support for transportation costs. Grants are typically awarded for two to four weeks, although the precise length of support will depend on the proposed research plan. may use funds from May of the year of the award through the following April. The 2026–2027 application cycle opens on October 13, 2025, and closes on January 14, 2026, at 12 PM ET, with notifications provided in April 2026. Funding Sources The primary source of support for FPUL Research Grants is the Friends of the Princeton University Library. Supplementary funding may be available from specialized funds to support research in particular areas: Program in Hellenic Studies / Stanley J. Seeger Fund: Limited grants for research in Hellenic studies. Elmer Adler Fund: Research grants in the graphic arts. Cotsen Children’s Library: Grants for projects related to children’s books. Maxwell Fund: Research concerning Portuguese-speaking cultures. Sid Lapidus ’59 Research Fund: Studies focused on the Age of Revolution and the Enlightenment in the Atlantic World. Additionally, the Will Noel Innovative Cultural Heritage Research Grant supports work aligned with Will Noel’s vision of democratizing access to cultural heritage materials through advanced imaging technologies. This grant allows cultural heritage professionals to use Princeton’s specialized Digital Studio, which includes photometric systems, multispectral imaging (MSI), Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), and photogrammetry, enabling recovery of obscured text and detailed analysis of artifacts. Note: Applicants may not apply for both the FPUL Research Grant and the Will Noel Grant in the same cycle. Eligibility Applicants may include scholars, independent researchers, and cultural heritage professionals. Proposals must demonstrate a clear connection to Princeton University Library’s special and distinctive collections. Applications focused solely on general circulating collections or electronic resources will not be considered. Prior grant recipients may reapply for new projects. Application Process Applicants are required to: Set up an account in the Library’s application system. Complete the online application form. Upload a curriculum vitae (CV) or resume in Word or PDF format. Submit a Project Narrative (maximum 1,000 words) explaining the significance of the proposed research and its reliance on Princeton’s unique collections. Provide two letters of recommendation, which the system will request automatically from your referees. Submit the completed application by the deadline. Review and Selection A committee of faculty, Library staff, and Friends of the Library members evaluates applications based on: Relevance of the proposal to the Library’s unique holdings Scholarly merit and significance of the project Applicant qualifications Successful applicants receive funding to conduct short-term, on-site research in Princeton. Grant recipients are not considered University employees and this is not a fellowship, but a monetary award to support independent scholarly work. Research Tools and Facilities Researchers may have access to: Specialized photographic equipment in the Library IT Digital Studio (for Will Noel grant recipients) Rare books, manuscripts, archives, and other collections in the Mudd, Marquand, and East Asian Libraries Applicants are encouraged to explore Library catalogs and descriptions of holdings to ensure their project depends on these resources. Additional Information Grants may cover travel, housing, and living expenses. Applicants are responsible for arranging accommodations. WiFi and Library access will be provided during the research visit. Grant recipients may request limited photoduplication or digitization of materials for their research. For questions regarding the application process, funding, or collections, contact the Friends of the Princeton University Library Visit Official Website Here Applications open October 13, 2025 and close January 14, 2026, at 12 PM ET. Notifications will be sent in April 2026. For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.