From the burnt-out, dreadfully lazy, sweatpants-clad ashes of Reading Week emerged the library-going, textbook-reading, caffeine-guzzling phoenix of the past week. Yes, my friends, the week after Reading Week. Ironically one of the most stressful weeks of the year. You’d think a break would settle your nerves, calm your Chi. But I bet many students found themselves at 10:00pm last Sunday saying,
“I have six projects, four papers, two dioramas, a uncooperative dog to train, a sidewalk mural to paint, and an existential interpretive dance piece all due tomorrow! Damn my procrastination!”
So I found myself at IKB most of last week, half trying to find the comfiest chair and half actually doing what I set out for. Seriously though, they have some comfy chairs over there. Much comfier than any of the Koerner chairs. Although, Buchanan has two very snug couches. Geez, this could be a research paper of mine. I’m sure there’s an active academic community willing to discuss UBC furniture comfort. Well, maybe an inactive community, considering their obsession with lounging.
Anyways, I was at the library, cocooned in the hushed academia only a large room with books can provide. There’s something about a library that induces a scholarly work ethic, and I have a theory about it. If you ask yourself,
“Would it be reasonable to imagine a group of hefty, bearded professors with tweed jackets and monocles here? Would they be using words like indubitably or huzzah? Would one of their names be Winston?”
If yes, then that is a place of study. Now, take my room, for example. While the thought of numerous stocky gentlemen in such close quarters, next to a Flight of the Conchords poster and a mini-fridge, most likely talking about biscuits, top hats, and horseracing, is hilarious, I simply could not deem it a place of study.
That’s why libraries are special. That’s why I feel libraries won’t go away. The books might, but the libraries won’t, especially on campuses. We’ll always have hallowed rooms of academic comfort, silent spaces for reading and reflection, whether it be on an iPad, a Kindle, or even a good old-fashioned book.
And therein lies the end of yet another Evan Brow blog post. Here’s your song for the week. Cheers.