At the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester, the Libraries Assessment team launched a survey to collect information about how and why students are using in-person library spaces and services. The survey, titled “What’s Your Library Story?,” prompted students to submit sentiments or stories about the library spaces they choose to use. The winner of the survey, a graduate student at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, was awarded a $100 Columbia Bookstore gift card for their submission about Avery Library:
“[I] enjoyed studying there in the Spring semester. I had a hectic semester with multiple exams very close to each other. But I was able to prepare well and complete my assignments on time as I could focus and work efficiently from there.”
Below, the survey winner shares additional insights into their favorite features of Avery Library, describes supportive interactions with Libraries staff members, and notes their favorite resources to take advantage of through the Libraries.
What is your area of study?
A: Computer Science (MS)
Your story submission mentioned Avery Library. What is your favorite feature of this library?
A: One of my favorite things about Avery Library is the vibe on the first floor—the ambience, the lighting, and the architecture all come together perfectly. It has this dark academia feel that makes it super easy to focus for hours. I love sitting at one of the tables by the windows. The four-seater tables are just the right size—big enough to feel comfortable, but not so crowded that it got noisy. It is the perfect balance: you can concentrate without feeling like you are totally shut off in a cubicle. The lighting, especially at night, is beautiful and really makes the space feel cozy and motivated me to stay late at night until the library closed. It is one of those places that just makes studying feel more enjoyable, and I could easily lose track of time there. Whenever I had one of those days where I didn’t have any other reason to come to campus (no classes, no meetings, no office hours to attend), I would come to Avery and spend the entire day there. It ensured I had a productive study day.
What do you consider to be a “hidden gem” inside Avery Library?
A: A hidden gem in Avery is the smaller hidden cabins in the basement floor. Avery has a very unique design in its basement with multiple sections. There are also isolated rooms with individual cubicles that people can use for studying if they want to focus and study in complete isolation. I think it is very unique and provides a quiet space for people who like to isolate themselves while working. It can also be used for solving practice exams as you get a completely uninterrupted quiet space.
Can you share a time a Libraries staff member helped you with a question or a problem that needed solving?
A: I always had good experiences interacting with the Libraries staff. One time a staff member helped me print some documents. I wasn’t sure why the printer was rejecting printing my documents. The staff member helped me find the issue (it was due to custom formatting) and formatted my document in a way that would allow printing.
What is your favorite free resource to take advantage of through the Libraries?
A: I find the digital news subscriptions super helpful. I end up reading The New York Times a lot through the free subscription they offer. I also use CLIO and Borrow Direct to borrow books, which is great because it gives me access to not just Columbia’s collection, but also books from partner libraries. I use Columbia Libraries for both my academic work and personal reading. Honestly, it’s such an amazing resource, and I feel lucky to have it at my fingertips.
___
This winner’s story is just one of the many inspiring submissions we’ve received, highlighting the diverse ways students use and value our library spaces. We want to hear more: the ‘What’s Your Library Story?’ survey remains open through May 2025! Share your experiences using library spaces and services for a chance to win a $100 University bookstore gift card in our next drawing at the end of the 2025 academic year. Your stories help us improve our spaces and services.