Q. How do I access the Library of Jacques Derrida?

About the Collection

Early in 2015, the Princeton University Library acquired the personal working library of Algerian-Born French Jewish philosopher Jacques Derrida (1930-2004). The collection consists of the library of the Derrida household, including Jacques Derrida's working library as well as books belonging, jointly or separately, to Jacques and Marguerite Derrida and, to some degree, their two sons, Jean and Pierre. It includes volumes, serial issues, offprints, clippings, and papers accumulated in the course of Jacques and Marguerite's professional activities as well as books representing the family's far-reaching interests and leisure reading.

For more information on the history of the acquisition, please see the blog post "Princeton University Library Acquires Jacques Derrida's Personal Library."

Due to its size, the collection has been divided into two series, each with their own finding aid: 

The Library of Jacques Derrida, Studio Series (RBD1) -- Contains books shelved by Derrida in his Studio, an addition to the house that served as Derrida's principal work environment from the time it was built in 2001 up to his death in 2004. Books are represented here as inventoried in 2011. Also includes books not inventoried in 2011 (hence presumably not shelved in the Studio at the time) but located in the Studio at the time of packing the Library for shipment to Princeton University Library.

Material is arranged by location in the Studio, following shelfmark order as inventoried and broken down by the first shelfmark segment, which indicates the four walls, two revolving bookcases, and bedside tables, respectively. 

The Library of Jacques Derrida, House Series (RBD1.1) -- Contains books shelved by Derrida outside the Studio, i.e. in the main house. This includes a main run of largely books received as unsolicited gifts by Jacques and Marguerite as well as, in some instances, Jean, and Pierre, as well as the family's leisure reading and books not considered as central to Derrida's daily work as those shelved in the Studio.

The main run is arranged by original shelf order as reflected in the inventory conducted prior to packing the Library for shipping to Princeton University Library. The remainder of the house, where a more precise original location is unknown, is arranged in approximate packing order.

Patrons may need to toggle between both finding aids when exploring material related to their research question. 

Interested patrons may also wish to explore the Princeton University Library project Derrida’s Margins, an ongoing effort to connect the annotations in Derrida’s library to his published works. 

Accessing the Collection

As is true with all collections, all researchers, regardless of academic affiliation are welcome to view materials from the Library of Jacques Derrida in the Special Collections Reading Room located on the C-Floor of Firestone Library during open hours.

If you would like to see the collection in person, we ask that you register for a Special Collections Research Account. While it is not necessary to do this before you arrive, it will speed up your visit if you register and request materials ahead of time. Please note that portions of this collection are stored offsite, and these requests should be placed at least three business days in advance to ensure timely arrival.

To request materials, use the “request this box” button in the finding aids for the collection, The Library of Jacques Derrida, Studio Series (RBD1) and The Library of Jacques Derrida, House Series (RBD1.1).

Upon your first visit to the library, you will need to check in with the access office on the first floor of Firestone Library in order to obtain an Access Card. Researchers will be asked to present a photo ID like a driver’s license, passport, school ID or work ID. It is not necessary to use a government-issued ID. Once your Access Card has been issued, please take the stairs or elevator down to C-floor, where you will find the Special Collections department. If you would like to have the ID Card made in advance of your visit so it is ready when you arrive, you can fill out a Special Collections ID Card Application online.

As a reminder, all food, drink, and personal belongings (such as bags, coats, laptop sleeves, pens, books, notebooks) must be stowed in the lockers available just outside the department. You are welcome to bring your laptop or tablet, but we will provide you with paper and pencils for handwritten notes.

You are also welcome to bring a camera, cell phone or other device to take pictures of the collection, but please leave any camera cases in your locker with other personal items. Please also be aware that due to preservation concerns, we do not allow the use of personal scanners, tripods, flash, or copy stands. To respect fellow researchers, we kindly ask you to remember to turn off any audible notifications on your devices when in the Reading Room. For more information please visit the Reading Room Guidelines page on our website.

Submitting a Digitization Request

Researchers who may not be able to visit in person can also request material be digitized and emailed to them as high-quality reproductions at no cost to the researcher. In order to provide effective and equitable service to all researchers, requests are limited to 300 pages per person/project. Published materials may be further limited due to copyright restrictions. Should you believe you are in need of services that do not align with our order fulfillment period or page limits, please reach out to public services staff to discuss your needs further.

Please contact Special Collections staff with questions or concerns via the AskUs! Form.