Most beautiful college libraries

College Search & Selection
21

<p>That sounds like an amazing trove.
On the sidelines of academia, I have seen waves of Texans able to bag top academics depending upon the oil price. When the old elites are down, Texas is up, it seems.
If UT can find a donor to house the collections in an impressive style, UT may be able to supply the missing piece.
I’m not a librarian, but rare books may be the last domain of the traditional library. It seems we are in the digital age, where library collections will be increasingly accessed offsite, and not necessarily dependent on an academic relationship to the university that owns the book. A brave new world.</p>

22

<p>Unfortunately, the building housing the Ransom Center was built in the 60s and remodeled in the 90s, with an intent to be more functional than awe-inspiring. While not housing as signifcant a collection as the Ransom Center, both UT’s Architecture library ([Cass</a> Gilbert Society - Cass Gilbert - the Architect - Buildings - University of Texas Library, Austin, Texas](<a href=“Cass Gilbert Society - Cass Gilbert - the Architect - Works - University of Texas Library, Austin, TX”>Cass Gilbert Society - Cass Gilbert - the Architect - Works - University of Texas Library, Austin, TX)) and Life Sciences library ([Life</a> Science Library - Virtual Tour](<a href=“http://lib.utexas.edu/lsl/welcome/tour/tour_welcome.html]Life”>http://lib.utexas.edu/lsl/welcome/tour/tour_welcome.html)) are elegant in the traditional sense. Both buildings actually served as UT’s main library at various points in UT’s history.</p>

<p>Very good point about the digital age. It’s not just an issue with access… it’s also changing the very nature of the archives themselves. With authors no longer preserving the drafts, revisions, correspondence, etc., it’s driving scholars in new directions to gain insights in the creative process. I believe Emory is one of the first major universities to go online with a completely digitally-created archive (Rushdie).</p>

23

<p>I’ve Never been to the Cook Library. I guess I have to do less studying and more exploring. The Michigan Law School Building is a gorgeous structure though.</p>

24

<p>I’ve been to many very beautiful college libraries but only one–the George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins–actually took my breath away the first time I went inside. Take a look <a href=“http://librarycmstest.mse.jhu.edu/bin/f/f/peabodyinterior.jpg[/url]”>http://librarycmstest.mse.jhu.edu/bin/f/f/peabodyinterior.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

25

<p>Also, one of a kind in the country:</p>

<p>[Ohio</a> State U.'s Library Renovation Is ‘Stupendous,’ Says a Leading Consultant - Buildings & Grounds - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Ohio-State-Us-Library/7988/]Ohio”>http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Ohio-State-Us-Library/7988/)</p>

<p>Exterior (Front)
<a href=“http://msidesign.com/wp-content/uploads/osu-william-oxley-thompson-library/full-3.jpg[/url]”>http://msidesign.com/wp-content/uploads/osu-william-oxley-thompson-library/full-3.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
Exterior (Rear) on Oval
<a href=“http://msidesign.com/wp-content/uploads/osu-william-oxley-thompson-library/full-5.jpg[/url]”>http://msidesign.com/wp-content/uploads/osu-william-oxley-thompson-library/full-5.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

26

<p>Deering Library - Northwestern</p>

<p>[Northwestern</a> University, Evanston Campus: Deering Library on Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/hqbach/2541836861/]Northwestern”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/hqbach/2541836861/)
[Northwestern</a> University, Evanston Campus: Deering Library on Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/hqbach/2956311288/]Northwestern”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/hqbach/2956311288/)
[Deering</a> Library pictures from scenery & nature photos on webshots](<a href=“Webshots - Desktop Wallpaper and Screen Savers”>Webshots - Desktop Wallpaper and Screen Savers)</p>

27

<p>Uris Library, Cornell University</p>

<p>[Uris</a> Library - Exterior with McGraw Clock Tower](<a href=“http://brancra.files.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2009/05/100_1769.jpg]Uris”>http://brancra.files.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2009/05/100_1769.jpg)
[Uris</a> Library - Interior](<a href=“http://wazlaf.org/blog/uploads/cornell/UrisLibrary.jpg]Uris”>http://wazlaf.org/blog/uploads/cornell/UrisLibrary.jpg)</p>

28

<p>I spent hundreds of hours studying in #1 Bapst Library, and never got tired of it. It’s beautiful inside and out:</p>

<p>[Local</a> College Library Gallery: BC’s Bapst “Most Beautiful” College Library - Bostonist](<a href=“WBUR”>WBUR)</p>

<p><a href=“http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BCburnslawnsunset.jpg[/url]”>http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BCburnslawnsunset.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

29

<p>“Must be easy to get into Penn nowadays…”</p>

<p>"It is…for hooked applicants. I just didn’t no who Grant Woods is because I hate art. Rest assured…I’m fairly academically qualified (you can look at past posts if you want more info…idc). "</p>

<p>Most Ivy Leaguers these days probably think Grant Wood is a porn star.</p>

30

<p>How about a spooky library…</p>

<p>Orton (Memorial) Hall - Geological Library, one of the very first buildings on tOSU campus that was built by the school’s 1st president Dr. Orton, and it is rumored that he is buried somewhere inside of this building and still lingers around greeting the students at midnight when the bell tower rings… The building’s exterior is surrounded by all kinds of gargoyles which also gives me the creeps whenever I walk by…</p>

<p>[Flickr</a> Photo Download: Orton Crown](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/bandman614/421217552/sizes/l/]Flickr”>All sizes | Orton Crown | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
[Flickr</a> Photo Download: Entrance to Orton Hall](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/andiwolfe/4125113492/sizes/o/]Flickr”>All sizes | Entrance to Orton Hall | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
[Flickr</a> Photo Download: Orton Tower](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/andiwolfe/4125717156/sizes/o/in/photostream/]Flickr”>All sizes | Orton Tower | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
<a href=“The Ohio State University - #MyOhioState”>The Ohio State University - #MyOhioState;
Now focus on the columns
[200608014_15_16</a> 013 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/srhbth/369708633/]200608014_15_16”>200608014_15_16 013 | zomg skulls!!!1 | Sarah Beth | Flickr)
[Flickr</a> Photo Download: 200608014<em>15</em>16 004](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/srhbth/369706165/sizes/l/in/photostream/]Flickr”>All sizes | 200608014_15_16 004 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
[Flickr</a> Photo Download: 200608014<em>15</em>16 015a](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/srhbth/369706041/sizes/l/in/photostream/]Flickr”>All sizes | 200608014_15_16 015a | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/srhbth/369706269/sizes/l/in/photostream/[/url]”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/srhbth/369706269/sizes/l/in/photostream/&lt;/a&gt;
The library inside
[Flickr</a> Photo Download: Orton Hall Geological Library](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/liangjinjian/3614805073/sizes/l/]Flickr”>All sizes | Orton Hall Geological Library | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
[Flickr</a> Photo Download: Orton Hall Geological Library](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/liangjinjian/3615623674/sizes/l/in/photostream/]Flickr”>All sizes | Orton Hall Geological Library | Flickr - Photo Sharing!)
Note: All the pictures above were taken during the day time…</p>

31

<p>accidental double post…sorry!</p>

32

<p>Just to add to the library discussion, as I understand it, at the Bodleain Library and the Radcliffe Camera, at Oxford, the collection is to be read on site. I think we have become used to the idea of checking books out, and more recently to downloading volumes. I love the cheapness and the availability of the texts. But in a counter-cultural take, there is something to be said for reading a limited edition in surroundings that seem somewhat hallowed. My daughter, back from doing two terms at Oxford, I think was influenced that way. I’ll have to talk to her about that.
I’m on the democratic cheapness side. But I’m willing to contemplate other takes.</p>

33

<p>The Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago (due to be finished in Spring '11) is a sight to behold. It will house about 3.5 million volumes in a $25 million, five story deep subterranean vault covered by a glass dome, right next to the 4.5 million volume Regenstein Library…</p>

<p>[Joe</a> and Rika Mansueto Library](<a href=“The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library - The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library - The University of Chicago Library”>http://mansueto.lib.uchicago.edu/)</p>

34

<br>

<br>

<p>This is probably because those are ancient libraries that date back to the days when books, all books, were rare, precious, and expensive things. So the library was not about to let one out of its control and possession. Books then were sorta like library computers are today - chained to the desk so that no one can remove them.</p>

<p>I have heard that in order to get library privileges Oxford students must still swear some ancient, formal oath to not “kindle fires” in the library and other such old fashioned-sounding promises of book care.</p>

35

<p>William H. Hannon Library, LMU - beautiful, brand new, modern library with breathtaking views… [William</a> H. Hannon Library Homepage](<a href=“http://library.lmu.edu/]William”>http://library.lmu.edu/)</p>

36

<p>Yes, readers at the Bodleian still have to swear that oath. And the library applies the rule to itself, so until the advent of electric lighting the library shut at sundown to avoid lighting candles or gas lights.</p>

<p>On not removing books from the Bodleian, it is worth remembering that it is the pinnacle of the Oxford libraries but not the only one. Every college has a library which will contain much of what an undergrad needs on a day-to-day basis. Also the subject departments have their own libraries with very substantial holdings so an undergrad should not be relying on the Bodleian. Not letting a book leave the library is also important when there is a lot of rare stock with single copies: it means that other readers don’t lose the opportunity of consulting the book.</p>

37

<p>Well, I just got back from a campus tour, and can safely say that the nation’s ugliest library is: <a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Lauinger_Library.jpg[/url]”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Lauinger_Library.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
Georgetown University’s main library, which they said was a modernistic interpretation of their Healy Hall is, unfortunately, as ugly inside as out ;)</p>

38

<p>I like the U of Rochester library. Not only is the reading room attractive, it has good light.</p>

39

<p>lund university </p>

<p><a href=“http://cdn.fotocommunity.com/Scandinavia/Sweden/Lund-University-Library-a18897886.jpg[/url]”>http://cdn.fotocommunity.com/Scandinavia/Sweden/Lund-University-Library-a18897886.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

40

<p>TOSU William Oxley Thompson Library on CBS “60 Minutes” over the weekend!!</p>

<p>“Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gives a rare interview to Scott Pelley in which he discusses pressing economic issues, including unemployment, the deficit and the Fed’s controversial $600 billion U.S. Treasury Bill purchase.”</p>

<p>See the ‘Grand Reading Room’ with Chairman Ben Bernanke at 3:00 in this clip:</p>

<p>[YouTube</a> - Fed Chairman Bernanke On The Economy](<a href=“Fed Chairman Bernanke On The Economy - YouTube”>Fed Chairman Bernanke On The Economy - YouTube)!</p>

<p>Go Bucks!! lol</p>