<p>I was just accepted to the Class of 2015 for Brown and I’m trying to pick between Brown and Middlebury. One of the more minor details I’d like to know about Brown is how are their libraries? Are they beautiful and breathtaking on the inside? I’ve seen pictures of the outside and I love Rockafeller and Science Library (I’m looking at neuroscience as my possible major) but I can’t find good pictures or descriptions of their insides? Are their spiral staircases leading to mahogany stacks of new and old books? Are their old polished tables where one can both study and admire large paintings and the ornate designs on the walls? I know this is a matter of opinion but I’d like to see what anyone else thinks here.</p>
<p>And if anyone knows what the libraries at Middlebury are like I would be grateful to hear your opinion as well or comparison.</p>
<p>Let me just start off by saying that the libraries (at least the main ones aka the Rockefeller and Science Library) are NOT aesthetically pleasing nor are the insides full of grandiose paintings for students to admire. Quite honestly, the main ones are pretty ugly but they get the job done as study spaces. However, the libraries which hold rare historical documents (John Carter Brown, John Hay) are pretty nice. </p>
<p>I can’t speak for Middlebury. However, I would venture to guess that Brown would give you quicker access to more collections + resources.</p>
<p>Ultimately, I wouldn’t let this deter you from choosing Brown, because there is so much more to the university. I hope this helps!</p>
<p>As Solace said, you’re not going to find old libraries at Brown. Other old buildings, yes. Many. But the two main libraries (the Rock and the SciLi) are both relatively new. Great study places, though.</p>
<p>The SciLi has 14 floors, and each floor is color coded to the ph scale. (I assume this hasn’t changed?) I always thought that was cool. One year, Tech House turned the outside of the Sci Li into a huge working Tetris board. That was really cool.</p>
<p>And there’s the funny story about how the Rock got its name …</p>
<p>But i would not describe the two main Brown libraries as “beautiful and breathtaking.” I love Brown, but there are not that many beautiful and breathtaking buildings. The Economics building maybe. The new Creative Arts Center got a fabulous review by the architecture critic of the NY Times.</p>
<p>The Friedman Study Center in the bottom of the SciLi (built in 2007) is great. I spent A LOT of time there. They are definitely not pretty buildings though. Who cares though, if you’re there you’re trying to get work done! (or socialize while pretending to get work done)</p>
<p>The main libraries, as previously stated, aren’t particularly attractive. The Hay is very nice. The Becker is also a lovely place to sit and study. None of them are grandiose but they are all very functional and wonderful.</p>
<p>Also, while not exactly open for general use, the John Carter Brown (JCB) is lovely. There are some beautiful study spaces spread out around campusthe Leung Gallery in Faunce and Smitty-B are among my favorites.</p>
<p>I think the Sci Li and the Rock are both AMAZING libraries. I love both of them so much. Aesthetically pleasing - eh not really from the outside. The Sci Li is really something for the unique design INSIDE. The first 4 floors each have distinct characteristics to assist different studying styles as well as general areas for the other 9 floors. Writing on the walls in the study rooms REALLY helps me as a math person. When dealing with proofs, the amount of erasing really makes messy papers. Being able to do it first on the wall and not waste my paper is kind of cool (but this is definitely for me and not for many).</p>
<p>The Rock is nice for its purpose. The absolute silence really allows me to delve into my reading and sitting right in front of the window and viewing some of the buildings of Providence has an urban serenity sense. When I need to write an essay, the individual study areas are helpful (since each station has an outlet for the laptop). I’m definitely a Sci Li guy, but I actually do the “go to the Rock for humanities and Sci Li for science” thing. They do the job (perfectly imo) for the type of studying that’s meant to be done in the libraries.</p>
<p>When I visited Brown, I liked the inside of the Rock. I thought it had pretty areas to study together or alone. It was not spectacular like many colleges’ libraries, but was notably aesthetically pleasing to me.</p>
<p>I currently regularly study in what I consider to be one of the most beautiful academic libraries in the world – the Langdell Library at HLS. If I was choosing between Brown and a college that had Langdell in the middle of its campus, I’d still choose Brown :)</p>
<p>Just wanted to say I love this discussion. I’m such a nerd about libraries myself! As long as there’s a quiet place that’s not too dusty though, I’ll be happy at Brown :)</p>
<p>Leung
The Zen? Garden (behind Kassar House)
Watson glass rooms
The Ratty (mmm… food while you work…)
The Quiet Green
Smitty-B
5th floor of the CIT (really 3rd floor +)
Orwig Music Library (yes, it’s a library… but who studies there?)
Wilson (late-night, when no one’s using the classes)
Rhode Island Hall
The fire escape of Miller</p>
<p>Some of these places, if you use them late-night, you have to be prepared to move around for the janitors, but they rarely kick you out (though once you leave you can’t get back in).</p>
<p>Sorry to hijack this thread, but the Rock and the Sci Li are still pretty on the inside, even though they’re kind of ugly on the outside? If that’s the case, that’s all that matters. Does anyone have pictures?</p>
<p>Chelsea, what matters when you are in the Rock & the SciLi is you have your nose in some book or your notes and you are not seeing whatever the walls & floors look like! Ditto for any other school’s library.</p>
<p>If you care that much about a beautiful library, you can join the Providence Athenaeum. It’s across from MacFarlane House (the Classics building) and is the fourth oldest library in America. It has a nice traditional feel, plenty of single person study spaces, and only costs like $25 a year for Brown students.</p>
Does anyone have pictures?</p>![http://chronicle.com/img/photos/biz/11184a.jpg[/url]](http://chronicle.com/img/photos/biz/11184a.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
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