PrintIt is Saturday afternoon and students hunch over their books deep in thought, or have eyes glued to their laptops. Another typical day in the library, fueled by Red Bull and espresso, filled with essays and assignments. Only this is not Butler. This is the Morningside Heights branch of the New York Public Library.
Facing the street, with blue banners displaying the word “library” in four different languages, the NYPL’s Morningside branch, located at 113th Street and Broadway, is a community staple for neighborhood residents. The neighborhood library has a long association with Columbia—it opened in 1914 in a space in Low. The original branch primarily served University affiliates and moved to a space in Butler in 1937. The library has occupied its current building since 2001.
With three floors of public space, the public library houses a 15-seat computer training center on the ground floor and a community room for literary programs in the basement. The busiest space, on the second floor, contains the book collections, with reading rooms for children and adults.
The NYPL offers a selection of books from eclectic genres for bibliophiles of all ages, such as the surprisingly sizeable collection of Japanese manga and comic books. The second floor is divided into three sections: the children’s collection, the young adult collection, and the adult collection. The children’s collection is mainly filled with picture books, including graphic novels, fiction, and foreign language books. While the young adult collection houses many teenage fiction books, the adult collection contains an variety of genres from history to science to religion.
In addition, the library boasts a decent DVD and CD collection. Anime, foreign films, standard Hollywood fare, and documentaries are all available. Books on tape and CD can also be found, and include classics such as Shakespeare’s tragedies and books by more contemporary authors like James Patterson and Toni Morrison.
Although around 8,000 DVDs are borrowed every month, the selection may not be wide enough for students. “I think that the collection at the public library is really limited. … I used to use it out of curiosity, but I think I can get everything within the school,” says Xuela Zhang, a BC first-year.
The second floor provides a reading room with tables and desktop computers for people to work. Laptops can be borrowed from the information desk and printing is free. However, it appears that the quiet space is crowded with mostly middle-aged and elderly people reading newspapers or magazines, with a few working on laptops. The library has a variety of newspapers going back to the previous month, from the New York Times to the Daily News. The magazine selection is also fairly large, ranging from Rolling Stone to the Economist.
There are regular literary events, although the Morningside branch mainly caters to children and young adults. There are also a few programs for “all ages,” such as a film screening of Beyond the Steps, directed by Phil Bertelsen, on Feb. 16th, which features the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The Morningside Heights Library Book Discussion Group also meets Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., and discusses recently published books such as The Time Traveler’s Wife and classics such as The Bell Jar.
It seems, however, that many Columbia students fail to use the NYPL’s vast resources. Most Columbia students do not even realize that any CU student can receive a free library card, even if he or she does not live on campus or in the New York City area.
Anne Thoma, a first-year in BC, says, “Why would I use it when Butler is right here?” Other students share the same sentiment. “I’ve used NYPL in high-school, but why use it here when I have Butler?” says Zoë Harris, another BC first-year.
Despite the conception that Columbia students do not take advantage of the close-to-home public library, some students do choose to visit the NYPL in addition to its Columbia counterparts. As Tanisha Jones, a student at the School of International and Public Affairs, says, “I come here regularly … I like the environment—it’s small. I use both libraries though, here and on campus.” Even with her devotion to both on-and off-campus libraries, Jones concludes that “the selections are better at Columbia.”
Barnard College, however, has taken a proactive role in collaborating with the NYPL. In September 2009, or National Library Card Sign-Up Month, Barnard organized an event in which many Barnard students, staff, and faculty registered for library cards. On Sept. 30, the NYPL signed up 159 new card holders from Barnard and the wider Columbia community. Tiffany Cheng, a sophomore in BC, was one of those students who registered during the sign-up day at Barnard, and now frequents the NYPL. “It’s more of a hassle to sign up for a card otherwise,” she says.
Columbia students can also look to the public library when their required texts for classes cannot be found or are checked out of the Columbia library system. While Borrow Direct takes at least a few days for requested books to arrive, the Morningside branch may just have the book available. If not, the library staff can request books from all branches of the NYPL and have them sent to 113th Street. Cheng comes to the NYPL when she “can’t find a book in the other Columbia libraries. I find a lot of books for my courses there.” Vanessa D’Egidio, an associate at The School at Columbia University, agrees. “Sometimes they have books that I need for courses. I prefer to use this because books on campus are often checked out.”
Columbia students may also turn to the NYPL when they want a change in routine, and are adventurous enough to try out a new environment and experience a different crowd. The library’s airy second floor has large windows that let in natural light, and the incandescent lights provide a distinctly non-Butler, cozy ambience.
“The atmosphere is different,” Cheng says. “Butler and Uris are more academic, and sometimes I want to take a break. … In Columbia libraries, everyone is frantically writing papers. Here, it’s more relaxed, and there are people of different ages.”
Many students attest to the contrasting atmospheres between Columbia libraries and the NYPL. The NYPL “has a different feel, a city community rather than a college community. There is a diverse group of people from all walks of life who enjoy the resources,” D’Egidio says. “If you go to a college library, you get in touch with students. When you go to the public library, you get to see people in the neighborhood, which is more fun,” Zhang says.
The public library is certainly conveniently located, even for non-Columbians. Renise Anderson, a recent graduate from the University of Michigan, explains that she takes a break at the NYPL after her tutoring sessions at Starbucks. “It’s loud and noisy in there, though, so I came here to do my work.” She appreciates that the library attracts a book-loving crowd of all ages. “It’s big, and there are more books, tables, and computer outlets than some other libraries. I also take out a random novel here every now and then. There’s a good selection.”
Indeed, Morningside Heights residents may be more eager to take advantage of the NYPL’s resources than some Columbia students. Elizabeth Hernandez, a student at Long Island University, lives on Amsterdam Avenue and works at Bank Street Bookstore. “It’s easy to come here and do my work … It’s my local library. Everyone is focused and keeps to themselves. I don’t take out books though because I like to buy them.”
There are, however, many reasons for why Columbia students choose not to go to the NYPL. “Maybe out-of-state and international students aren’t familiar with the New York library system … Other people don’t know that if they live here, they can get a card,” Cheng says. D’Egidio acknowledges that many students prefer the convenience of on-campus libraries. “If you’re on campus, why venture here anyway? I was a student at Barnard, and I never used the library,” she says.
“They don’t know we’re here,” Thaddeus Krupo, library manager, says, referring to Columbia students. He admits that “There’s not too much we can offer Columbia students that they don’t already have. The branches are set up for the community. Columbia is a big part of the community, but it’s also for people in the surrounding areas who come here on a regular basis.” Also, Krupo recognizes that the branch libraries are “not typically for research,” and suggests the main branch on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. Students should also keep in mind the New York Public Libraries “generally don’t collect in textbooks.”
Given the ease of attaining a library card and its convenient location, Columbia students should see the neighborhood library as an alternative to Butler. However limited branch libraries may be, they can offer one thing Butler can’t during finals week: a change of scene.
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