Amsterdam in the evening.

Amsterdam in the evening.

We know Butler, Avery, and the gaping hole in Barnard’s campus that once was Barnard Library. Bwog continues to review amazing libraries by taking a look into the Social Work Library!

Location: 2nd Floor, School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue (between 120th and 121st). Accessible library.

Hours: Monday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 AM to 9 PM. Friday-Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Sunday, 12 PM to 8 PM.

Contact: (212) 851-2194, socwk@library.columbia.edu, http://socialwork.columbia.edu/the-student-experience/student-support-services/social-work-library/

Seats:

  • Total: ~100 Seats (including seats in reading and group study rooms)
  • Carrels: 8 Seats
  • Comfy Chairs: 14 Seats
  • Computers: 25 Seats
  • Tables: 32 Seats
  • VHS TVs: 2 Seats
  • Seats for Talking: ~15 (There are multiple group study rooms available)

Amenities:

  • Printers: 6 PawPrint printers.
  • Scanners: 2 scanners.
  • Lighting: Typical Butler-esque sterile lighting.
  • Chairs: Nothing special one way or the other. Not as nice as the Geology Library, but better than Butler.
  • Outlets: Outlets regularly paced out, but not built into study carrels or tables.
  • Computers: 25 in total, requiring login.
  • Bathrooms: Both a men’s bathroom and a women’s bathroom can be found on the same floor as the Social Work Library, located directly across from the 2nd floor student lounge.
  • Water Fountains: Multiple water fountains, including one in the stacks.
  • Food/Drink: Closed drinks allowed, but food discouraged. The student lounge on the same floor is fully available for food and drink, however.
  • Windows/View: Windows look out over Amsterdam, Teachers College, and 121st. Lots of natural light during the day, but no especially spectacular view.
  • Smoking: Requires exiting the building. There is also a little known garden behind the building, connected to Lenfest Hall.
  • Books: Volumes upon volumes concerning child welfare, gerontology, health care, international social welfare, marriage, and social policy.
  • Bonus: Very relaxed library, closer to some students (cough Plimpton cough) than other libraries. Lots of seats, but few people occupying them.

Atmosphere: The Social Work Library is very modernist in comparison to other libraries, boasting the intense off-white lights and rectangular windows of our worst library nightmares. However, the Social Work Library during the day lets in bountiful sunlight, a terrific reprieve from the dark tomb of Butler.

Favorite Spot: The study carrels differ from those of Butler in their larger size and the addition of an LED light which can be switched on or off.

Recommendation: The Social Work Library, for its size and cleanliness, is probably not worth spending your time at. If you live on Amsterdam or north of North Campus (GS and Barnard, for the most part), the Social Work Library could be a prime studying location. However, it’s unnecessarily far for most Columbia students to patronize.

Gallery:

All photos via Bwog Staff