The college library was a high beautiful space, designed and built and paid for by people who believed that those who sat at the long tables before open books-even those who were hung-over, sleepy, resentful, and uncomprehending-should have space above them, panels of dark gleaming wood around them, high windows bordered with Latin admonitions, through which to look at the sky. For a few years before they went into schoolteaching or business or began to rear children, they should have that. And now it was my turn and I should have it too.
The college library is portrayed as a majestic and inspirational space, crafted by those who valued the experience of learning. It is a sanctuary for students, who, despite their varying states of fatigue or discontent, are afforded an environment that uplifts them. This space is designed not just for immediate academic pursuits but as a nurturing ground for intellect and growth, allowing students a moment of respite to absorb knowledge and...
