About the Libraries: Libraries and Centers: John Cotton Dana Library
A Walking Tour of the John Cotton Dana Library

Welcome to the John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers Newark. The Library provides information resources and services to support all programs offered by the Campus except law.

The Library is named in honor of library pioneer John Cotton Dana who was director of Newark Public Library from 1902 until his death in 1929. He was also the founder of the Newark Museum. A strong advocate for higher education and the city, Mr. Dana was known as "Newark's First Citizen." The Library has carried Mr. Dana's name since 1929.

When Rutgers-Newark moved to its present site in the 1960s, Dana Library was one of the first new buildings to open its doors. The South Wing behind the Circulation Desk is the original part of the building. Eleven years later, in 1977, the North Wing was added. The most recent renovation, the third and fourth floors over the North Wing, opened in October 1994.

Stop One: The Lobby

Telephones and photocopiers are available here.

Circulating library materials are checked out at the Circulation Desk. Undergraduates may borrow library materials for 28 days; graduate students and faculty may obtain term loans. A valid Rutgers ID card with a bar code and PIN obtained at the Circulation Desk serves as a library card for our students and faculty.

Walking to the far end of the Circulation Desk and going through the double doors will bring you to the Reserve Window on the right. Reserve materials are placed in our circulation department by professors so that many students may use the same materials. When the Reserve Window is closed, reserve material may be obtained at the Circulation Desk.

You are standing in the South Wing where the Administration Office, Reference Office, and quiet study areas are located. To visit the Lower Level, retrace your steps through the double doors to the Lobby and walk to the main staircase.

Now proceed down the main staircase to the Lower Level.

Stop Two: The Lower Level

On this floor you will find our collection of bound periodicals, current periodicals, microfilm, and copy services. Photocopiers and microform reader/printers are available here; we use a copy card system. Periodicals are stored at the Dana Library alphabetically on the shelves by their titles. If you need assistance, you can ask for help at the Periodicals Department Desk. The Electronic Classroom, used for information literacy instruction, is also located on this floor.

Now take the public elevator (on your left as you face the Periodicals Department Desk) up to the fourth floor.

Stop Three: The Fourth Floor

The fourth floor was completed in 1994. As you turn left out of the elevator, you will pass the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies. The Jazz Institute is one of the largest jazz collections in the world. They collect books and periodicals about jazz, historic and contemporary jazz recordings in many media, and even instruments that belonged to famous jazz musicians. Visits are by appointment only.

Walking to the right and then straight ahead after leaving the Jazz Institute will bring you to the Media Department. The Media Department collects videotapes, audio recordings, CD-ROMs, and other forms of media. A state-of-the-art multimedia system can pipe audio or video into the viewing rooms you can see on either side as you approach the media desk. On your right are smaller booths for viewing media, and on your left are larger group study rooms that can also serve as group viewing rooms for media assignments. The Dana Room, a multimedia viewing facility that will hold up to 70 people, is also located on this floor.

Now return to the elevator or walk down two flights of steps to the second floor. The third floor, future site of some high-technology instructional spaces, is currently empty.

Stop Four: The Stacks

The second floor consists almost entirely of stack areas for circulating books. After leaving the elevator, walk a few steps to the left and then make a right turn. Proceed down the long corridor past the study tables on your left and the window on your right. As you leave the window on your right hand side, you will see the sorting area, where books are rough sorted before they are replaced on the shelves. Past the sorting area you will find a series of group study rooms on your left. Looking to your right, you will see stack area and individual study carrels.

Now retrace your steps to the elevator. Take the elevator or the staircase down to the first floor. You will find yourself in the lobby.

Stop Five: The Reference Room

As you leave the elevator, turn left and enter the Reference Room. The Reference Room at the Dana Library serves as both reference area and Newark Computing Services (NCS) laboratory. Only students and faculty can use the NCS computers. Library system computers are open to the public, but library users always have first priority. Games are prohibited at all times.

Staffing for this room may include a NCS lab assistant as well as the reference librarians at any given time. If you need any assistance with library matters, just ask at the reference desk or call us at 973/353-5901.

We hope you enjoyed your visit to the John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers Newark. A library can take a lifetime to explore. Come and see us again!