Newcomer's Guide: Lay of the Library Land
William Scheide just donated a bazillion dollars worth of old books to Princeton but let's be honest, you'll never read them. Libraries aren't about books - they're about sitting on your laptop looking studious.Where you Library says a lot about you, so you might as well find your niche before you hit campus.Check out the pro’s and con’s of Princeton’s many libraries below...1. FirestoneUsual Open Hours: 8 am – 11:45 pmAs Princeton’s largest library with over a million and a half volumes, Firestone is the behemoth of book houses. You might be intimidated by Firestone’s gothic architecture and ancient feel, but remember that it was built in the mid-20th Century, so it’s basically a poser and should be intimidated by you.
Major pro of Firestone? This is where shit gets done. Walking into the silent reading room feels like entering a battlefield, but in a good way.
Firestone attracts the most studious Princetonians hunched over wooden cubbies with empty boxes of ramen and Red Bull cans. Which leads us to another great perk – food.Although you’re technically not allowed to bring in anything other than sealed beverages, there are no evil bag checkers (looking at you, Marquand) and the welcome desk is usually just chilling.
Firestone also has some spectacular views, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to procrastinate by staring at other people from above.
Another great Firestone feature is the light study space on the third floor. Fancy portraits and whimsical lighting will definitely keep you motivated.
However, navigating Firestone’s narrow stacks can be a challenge.This view may be traumatic for those with limited special navigation skills, and is especially scary at night.
Parts of Firestone are under construction until 2018, causing occasional re-routings and noise in the library’s lower levels. Note: a true Firestoner hates nothing more than noise.
Also, beware of tomb-like desk spaces with combination locks. Angry preceptors are rumored to lurk in their shadows.
To end on a positive note, remember that Malia Obama may be spotted in Firestone’s rare books collection…
2. East Pyne LibraryUsual Opening Hours: 7 am – 10 pmEast Pyne is home to the classics, comparative literature and European language departments.More importantly, however, East Pyne attracts some of Princeton’s best-dressed and most obnoxiously foreign students. (Obnoxious in a stylish way, of course.)Edward Said’s daughter Najla mentions East Pyne as one of her favorite hideouts in her memoir, so you know it must be worth your time.The East Pyne library is unassumingly fancy – there are no bag or book checkers (you’ll see why…), food is fair game (and sometimes provided!), while the library’s gothic architecture will help you feel tragically academic at all times. It’s also perfect for those quintessential Princeton snaps your friends at other schools will love to hate.
Because you don’t need a prox to enter the library, it’s the perfect place to take visiting family members or friends. With its cathedral windows and arched roof, the East Pyne library is a pleasant view from any angle.
Have fun perusing the random book titles in East Pyne between readings -- because nothing says brain candy like “The Mourning Sexton.”
While East Pyne is often pleasantly empty in the evening, beware on three accounts. One, tourists wander inside pretty frequently -- you may be subject to photo shoots, pointing, and awed whispers.Two, it can get very cold at night, presumably because no one bothers to keep the heat on. Three, East Pyne is sometimes closed to host events. But these events often have food, and food means leftovers.3. Marquand Library of Art and ArchaeologyUsual Opening Hours: 8:30 am – 11:45 pmWe already made a jab at Marquand for its strict food police, but the library’s stringency pays off. Marquand is one of the cleanest, most streamlined study spaces without crumbs, smells or wrappers.
The furniture is minimalist and chic, but definitely not lounging material.Marquand’s panorama windows offer a beautiful view of campus with plenty of natural light.
Marquand is perfect for people watching, but remember that you may be watched in return, so stay classy.Located next to the art museum, Marquand is often surrounded by members of the local community, international tourists and posh older couples checking out the museum’s newest exhibits. This change of crowds offers a welcome break from the usual set of college students.Alas, we do need to address the food problem. Marquand bag checkers are religious in their searches and will find that banana you plopped in your bag without thinking and that you did not even plan on eating in the first place.You will awkwardly take the banana from the inspector’s hands and NOT throw it away in a trashcan inside the library (also not allowed), but backtrack and deposit the illicit item in Marquand’s not so yummy food cabinet.
IN the cabinet, not on it, because food juices could damage the mosaic hanging above. Never mind that the art museum hosts a food fest every year.
But snackers should not despair – Marquand is conveniently located across from Murray Dodge, which offers free cookies fresh from the oven most evenings and afternoons.Side note: Marquand hasn’t started patting people down TSA style yet. Do what you wish with this information…4. Lewis LibraryLewis is Princeton’s most prominent science library, and carries the name of our biggest donor, Peter Lewis.The building is rather psychedelic, which begs the question: is Princeton secretly aligning itself with Peter Lewis’ stance on legalizing marijuana?
Lewis offers a more modern brand of library, and boasts a spectacular reading room dubbed the Bird Cage.
Lewis also features futuristic chairs that you may turn in circles at your leisure.
Although Lewis has an interesting, geometric infrastructure, this translates into narrow hallways and an unintuitive layout. Unlike Firestone, however, Lewis is more moderately sized with landmarks for the geographically challenged.5. Architecture LibraryUsual Opening Hours: 9 am – 11:45 pmThe architecture building has a bad reputation for being “ugly” in the eyes of Orange Key tour guides. But you, prefrosh, know better -- the building is obviously Bauhaus and therefore functional and sophisticated.By visiting the architecture library, you too may become a black skinny-jean-wearing, cigarette-smoking artiste like those pictured below.
Along with Lewis, the architecture library also offers the rare experience of sitting on $5,000. Yes, that’s how much one of these wonky chairs cost.
In line with its Bauhaus style, the library is minimalist and equipped with sharp, flexible desk lamps. The approachable chalkboard offers plenty of space for artistic expression and/or frustration.
Springtime views are therapeutically matched with cozy seating arrangements.
However, you do have to climb a flight of narrow stairs to reach the library, and its no-noise policy is strongly enforced.And so ends our tour of Princeton’s library land – keep in mind that these are only five of the many study niches on campus, so get excited to explore!Welcome to...