Study Spot: Mather House Library

The “Mather is ugly” roast is pretty low-hanging fruit amongst undergrads at the College. The library, however, is lowkey pretty nice. The cozy two-storied chamber of knowledge is armed with a computer lab of Macs and PCs, color printing, and spinny chairs that entertain me while I contemplate how I’m going to salvage a C- in Hebrew Bible. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sociability: The actual library is teeming with desks both large and small scattered throughout little nooks around the building, making it a perfect place to get focused group work done or to put your headphones in and bang out papers in solitude until the wee hours of the morning. It is one of the rare places on campus that is completely quiet.

Crowds: Given that it is a little far from Yard-centered activities, there are seldom actually people in the Mather Library. Your only competition for seats are other Mather residents, who typically work in the dining hall or side study rooms.

Ambiance: The actual feel of the library somehow is always warm, which is fascinating because Mather has some of the coldest architecture I’ve ever seen. The carpets, cushioned seats, and stacks of outdated Zoobooks and Sports Illustrateds provide a nostalgic, homey feeling to the concrete chamber of knowledge. If you’ve convinced yourself that natural lighting somehow makes you study better, take a seat by the windows lining the courtyard. Watch the leaves blow and unofficial house canine mascots June, Steve, and Laika run around and live far less stressed lives than you.

Amenities: There isn’t a whole lot going on in this library, but it is a few steps away from the Mather dining hall, which always has sandwich-making array, four cereal options, and juice/milk/soda machines loaded for Brain Break (starting at 9 PM). Plus, Mather is right by Louie’s, so if you need a late night 30-rack to get you through exam prep, acquiring one won’t be a problem for you.

If you somehow find yourself seven counties away and in the Mather House courtyard, we highly recommend that you take some time to hastily submit your discussion posts from the Mather Library. It’s cozy as heck, and no one will walk in on you napping in the corners because few people venture as far to Mather as it is.