Perry-Castaneda Library

I think this place qualified as it’s own college campus onto itself. It is HUGE. The staff here is really friendly. There are specialized librarians if you need research in an area. Just ask. They’re happy to help.
I did look at the call number listing for this institution. I expected to find academic journals. They’re carefully tucked away somewhere. Not very inspiring considering all of the research which this place is supposed to let you do.
At least the coffee bar is easy to find.

The architecture could use a little help – Brutalist is just not my thing. And the hour-​long sessions on the computers is just annoying. But, if you like information, this is the place to be.

PCL.
Pretty Chinese Library. Pretty Creepy Library. Pretty Crappy Library.
All of those names accurately describe the PCL.
Pretty Chinese Library. You see, often the library feels like a little part of Asia has landed on the UT campus. (see Google Maps for South Asia Institute). In fact, several Asian friends have admitted to coming to the PCL when feeling homesick.
Pretty Creepy Library. The dim lights. The constantly running water fountains. The frigid temperatures rivaling the nearest morgue. The voice, for christ sakes. THE PCL VOICE! I know I’m not the only one that feels this way.
Pretty Crappy Library. Entering this place is like visiting the 70’s. Limited plugs. Uncomfortable chairs. Weird, boxy cubicles. Somewhat practical, but it sure as hell aint pretty.
What you should know:
Enter on the 2^nd floor. Now, before entering you get a choice on how to enter. Are you feeling pretty and adventurous? Take the revolving doors. Practical and pissed. Take the normal doors. How about wasteful and lazy? Yep, the automatic doors. Now, Prufrock’s is on the left. Coffee is effective, coffee drinks are meh, food is awful. But if the bald guy is working, just leave. He has an attitude.
1^st floor: There’s supposedly a map collection down here that people RAVE about. I like this floor, but it does have a basement feel to it.
2^nd floor: Computers and collaborative study lounges.
Elevator: You will stop on every floor.
3^rd floor: Quiet, but empty. So you can get away with a lot.
4^th floor: Quiet, but more crowded. Too serious.
5^th floor: Collaborative study floor. No work is done here.
6^th floor: The most recently renovated floor. Lots of plugs. Quiet, but not too quiet. A lot gets done here.
It’s actually the Perry Casteneda Library, in case you were wondering.

I cannot recommend the work-​study jobs here enough. Most of my studying at this university has been done while working at the EIC desk, and getting PAID for it. It doesn’t get much better than that. Albeit, you do have to deal with student gunmen running past you every once and again.

Their policy on checking out certain books is ridiculous and the fact that they charge per hour for late fees is even more so trifling.

PCL is hit or miss for studying.
Right before mid-​terms and finals, it’s pretty bad because it seems that just then is when most students realize that they’re supposed to learn something. ;)
Outside of this, the PCL is a good study spot — wifi, many free desks, open computers if need be, etc.
The real down side is parking on UT Campus — which is a real nightmare.

Great library overall! I study up on the sixth floor and people are extremely quiet up there. I think what Kat L. said is true about the sixth floor, people up there mean business. :)
Also, the security is really nice to me for some reason.

If you go up to the sixth floor, and sit next to the windows on the south side of the building, you have a clear view of the Capitol.

Pretty much the only thing I like about this place is the Map Room downstairs. 4 stars for the Map Room. The guy that runs it is super helpful and he knows the place like the back of his hand. Want a topo map of Rhode Island? He can find it with his eyes closed. Ok, maybe not, but close enough. Good luck trying to study here during finals. It’s like Macy’s on Black Friday.

There is a whole lot of stuff in this library. There’s also a time-​warp portal. When I was a student, I’d go in here at 6:00 PM, look something up, check it out, leave, and it’d be the next day outside. I think the time warp is somehow related to the ghosts that haunt the basement. Watch out for that water fountain just beyond the stairs. It’s creeeeeeeepy.

By Odin’s beard, you’ll find no ivy vines, flying buttresses, or Gothic theatrics here!
Then what, you ask? Books you fool! By the droves, throngs, and legions!
Tomes, treatises, anthologies! On every conceivable subject, from paraconsistent logic to Mayan astronomy to penguin mating rituals!
Myself, I take comfort in such inexhaustible bastions of erudition and imagination. Indeed, I read no less than 40 of these books per day, and I have yet to inflict even a sizable dent!