Today, I stumbled upon the most beautiful library: the Stauffer Library of the Humanities and Social Sciences. This place is truly astounding! There’s a central atrium where the ceiling flies high overhead exposing many floors, all connected to one another by granite spiralling staircases. The hall is respectfully dim, while over every workspace is a bright desklamp that spot-lights the saints of this temple – the books. From all directions there’s a hushed choir of students studying: the flipping of pages, and the scratching of pencils.
Before settling to a workspace, I took some time to wander around. Maybe it’s because it was my first time there, but the place has a maze-like quality to it. There are lots of surprising little corners, and every nook seems unique. In one particular spot there’s a fireplace reading room where comfy chairs are arranged around a brightly crackling fire.
What a wonderful discovery! It’s amazing how having the right environment can have such an influence on your studying. Stauffer has a sacred feel to it, as if you’re within a hall of learning that has fostered generations of bright minds and future leaders. You really feel inspired when you’re there. The potential for knowledge lives there, and all you must do is enter and be immersed.
Nerd!
Comment by Tim — October 18, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
my library here has escalators! which is a first for me and makes the building feel much bigger than it is…and more modern than libraries should feel, in my perspective. sadly, there are no cute corners to hide in like high school or abandoned ailes like mac…it also has clumps of dust on the stair steps which makes me wonder…although no one seems to use to the stairs. one good thing is they let me take out stacks of books for a hundred days! i’ve started my own borrowed collection in my apartment…i hope i remember to return them all on time…come the end of january…
Comment by alisa — October 18, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
wow… ya, I don’t know if I could handle escaltors, either. seems inappropriate somehow.
Comment by Jason Booy — October 21, 2008 @ 10:21 pm
Its funny you talked about the ancient quality of Stauffer, as its one of the University’s newest buildings
. If you’re looking for old, check out Douglas Library. The top floor reminds me of Harry Potter. And it isn’t as busy as Stauffer by the time finals roll around. I’ve had to literally cozy up to an electrical outlet on the floor in Stauffer simply because there were no seats *anywhere*.
Huzzah two cents!
Comment by Kris Bergmann — October 27, 2008 @ 2:18 am
Hmm… coincidentally I discovered “the Harry Potter Room” just yesterday! Fabulous
! My new favourite place on campus.
Ha ha
… so glad to have received your two cents Kris, and let me know if there are other cozy study spots that I should check out!
Comment by Jason Booy — October 27, 2008 @ 1:12 pm