Okay, so this one is going to be hard for me to admit, because I grew up in Ohio and spent a considerable portion of my working career at Ohio State University, but the U of Michigan campus is gorgeous, and their Law library is staggering. In terms of library architecture, Michigan has OSU trounced. (Football is still thankfully another story!)
I was at a library conference last week where the keynote speaker bemoaned this type of gothic, sacred space in libraries. His attitude was that libraries should be a place of laughter, public performances, coffee, and community-building. I actually agree with him on all those points…..but I am convinced libraries must retain a substantial portion of their buildings as quiet places for reading and reflection. If librarians don’t fight for these spectacular spaces, who will?
Many of the great libraries that were built in the late 19th and early 20th century contained these immense reading rooms. Such spaces naturally inspire a quiet awe which is not condusive to coffee shops or group study, which is why they are seldom built in new libraries. Community building has evolved to become an important part of modern librarianship, so I heartily concur with the inclusion of coffee shops and informal space, but I hope there will always be room for such spectacular reading rooms in at least some of our major libraries.
Photos courtesy of Dan Germony and Julie Falk.