Is a Library, a Library?
@Urfavfilosopher’s Favorite Academic Libraries
In the first 10 or so years of my academic career, I’ve had the opportunity to work at a variety of academic libraries. Surprisingly, so many features about libraries go unnoticed and under-discussed.
How does it look? How does it feel? What’s the vibe like? What kinds of books do they have in their stacks? Do they have reading/study/meeting rooms? And what are they like? Is there a café in that bad boy that I can get my tea at?
The reality is that not all libraries are the same— even at colleges and universities. Some institutions specialize in and prioritize books that will enhance undergraduate study; Others are geared more toward the production of knowledge and research and carry little known or obscure texts for researchers asking the most idiosyncratic questions. Some are large and difficult to navigate; others are kinda small, and while they may be easier to navigate, their bureaucracy makes it difficult for researchers to get what they need in a timely fashion.
The amount of time that I’ve spent in libraries has created an opportunity to get to know them and their functionality relatively well.
Below is the list of my top five university libraries I’ve worked with. Some made the list because of their design architecturally; others made the list because while their stacks weren’t the most enticing they had impressive interlibrary loan programs that do not compromise research quality or tempo.
Whatever your own library tastes, I encourage find the where the libraries are when you travel to new cities, states, regions and countries . Find public libraries. Find university libraries. Spend some time in them. Learn what you like about them and what they do well; how they can serve you. Take pictures and have conversations with strangers and see where they take you.
Anyway here’s the list of @Urfavfilosopher’s very subjective list of favorite libraries in order from least to most favorite.
5. Payson Library — Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
You’ll find peace in the library at the heart of Pepperdine‘s main campus in Malibu, California. As an undergraduate library, Payson specializes in texts that students will need to carry out their own work homework and research. Compared to other libraries on this list, Payson is quite small in size featuring three floors with study rooms in spaces. The interior design of the library creates a warm study environment with tremendous views of the Pacific Ocean.
Academic researchers might be surprised to find that their collection of physical books surpasses many colleges and universities that specialize in undergraduate learning.
As a Pepperdine alum, Payson library will always hold a special place in my heart as it is the library where I carried out significant research on my first published academic paper “On the Nature of Romantic Love."
4. Mullins Library - University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Mullins library features a really unique design. 1/2 of the university’s library structure features a modern outward design and the other half reflects the rich tradition of the university‘s history.
As the flagship university for the state of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, serves a large number of students. Additionally the faculty at University of Arkansas carry out rigorous research and publish regularly, making significant contributions in the production of knowledge.
It’s stacks features a wide range of texts spanning all disciplines. It’s collection combines satisfying the needs of undergraduates and graduate students seeking success in their study and satisfying the needs a faculty who have high expectations surrounding the quality of their research.
Mullins is not the most comfortable library and because it sees high traffic, one can expect to always be accompanied by ambient noise. This is not a bad thing though, as some readers, researchers and writers prefer to have noise complement their flow. They have always had a helpful staff willing to help track down harder to find texts and have an excellent interlibrary loan service. In my opinion, their study spaces and furniture is a bit out of date, but this adds to its unique charm.
3. Orradre Library- Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
The university library at Santa Clara University is perhaps one of the Bay Area’s hidden gems. The library features a clean modern design complete with comfortable furnishings that are colorful and inviting.
As the universe attracts many students that are interested in Computer Science and Engineering, the university’s collection reflects this predominance.
The library is well furnished and anyone who has the time and is in the Bay Area should be encouraged to stop by and visit!
2. Moffitt Library- University of California, Berkeley, Berkley CA
Massive in size, Moffitt sees a lot of traffic on a daily basis, the progressives and hippies Northern California is known for. You come for the books; you leave with the staircase impressioned in your memory.
1. Greene Library- Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
By far the most elegant library I’ve had the opportunity to work in. The Greene library is furnished with the finest woods, marble, and ivory. Green’s is rather large in its size with plenty of high tech study rooms and elegant reading rooms.
Green also had the most extensive catalog I’ve experienced relevant to the Humanities. Titles I had grown used to relying on interlibrary loan for were conveniently located in the stacks regularly.
In my opinion, the luxury of accessing Greene may induce feelings of guilt in folks who are not used to having access to such a great library. I remember a many times sitting in there thinking about how many of my homies won’t ever be able to experience a library so great.
