As one of Princeton University's largest entities, nearly all University administrative records held at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library relate to the University Library in some way. These various record groups are particularly valuable for demonstrating how the Library relates to differing elements of the Princeton University community, including upper-level administration (Office of the President Records, Office of the Provost Records), academic departments (Department of Art and Archaeology Records, School of Engineering and Applied Science Records), and Alumni (President's Program Records). Technical records and subject files which document the evolution of the Library's facilities are also available in several collections (Grounds and Buildings Historical Subject Files, Office of Physical Planning Records).

The personal papers of some prominent figures in the history of the Princeton University Library are also available in the Special Collections. These include the William S. Dix Papers (University Archives), the Elmer Adler Papers (Manuscript Division), the Howard C. Rice Correspondence with Alexander Wainwright (Manuscript Division), the Julian P. Boyd Papers (Manuscript Division), the Ernest Cushing Richardson Collection (Manuscript Division), and the Selected Papers of Maurice Kelley (Manuscript Division).

An overview of University Library activities can be obtained from the Annual Reports of the President, as well as editions of the Library Handbook. Numerous printed volumes also document specific collections and aspects of Library history, and are cataloged individually in the Library's main catalog.