The Carnegie Library

After class yesterday I wanted to go someplace to read/study - fortunately Emily had the same perogative, and a plan was formed.

Neither of us wanted to study at the law library - for me this is because though it is quite large, I always feel as though it is crowded and teaming obsessive law-student gunners - but that's just me.

So a couple of friends walked a couple of blocks to the Hillman Library (okay actually it's like half a block, but I really wanted to quote Sex & the City). Hillman is the University Library - now I'm sure it's well suited as far as number of volumes, relevant periodicals, etc. But it's a piece of shit. It's ugly, there is really shitty lighting, there are only 2 study rooms that we could find and overall it made me want to vomit. It actually kind of pissed me off a little bit - because this is a University of 30,000+ students and the Library is ridiculous. I went to a tiny little Lib. Arts college that nobody has ever heard of, we had 1,400 students and our library was better suited for student use (we had about a dozen study rooms available for students, all of which had windows - allowing some respite from the fluorescent haze). I just don't get it - and it isn't a Public/Private dichotomy either - the Pattee/Paterno Library at PennState is great. Whatever - Pitt is the second most expensive public university in the country - we should have a better facility.

That rant aside, after Em & I decide that Hillman was a waste of time, we ventured further down Forbes to the Carnegie Library.

This place rocks (only detraction is the lack of wireless internet) - it's big, it's beautiful, and I love it. The first floor is crazy cool, kind of a "high-tech installation in a historic building" feel - the stairwells remind me of Grand Central and the second floor is exactly what a library should be - high ceilings, rows and rows of big tables and overly helpful librarians.

Oh yeah - and they've got a coffee shop on the first floor. I seriously think that this place is going to be my study spot for the rest of the year.

But as for the studying, Emily was like a hyperactive 7-year old who had forgotten to take her meds. Girlfriend couldn't stay focused - it was really quite amusing.

Oh yeah - just so nobody forgets - Emily bought a sweater and the first time she wore it (yesterday) it developed a large hole on the seam of the underarm....and then two subsequent smaller holes!