Have you or a loved one become sick of Butler? You may be entitled to a better library. The law offices of Bwog and Bwog* are here to help. Bwog writer Jack Treanor reviews The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library.

* Disclaimer: Bwog does not offer real legal services.

The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library

Lower Level – Floor 2

  • Total: 106 seat
  • Table Seating: 44 seats
  • Carrel Seating: 20
  • Computers: 28 seats
  • Comfy: 8 Seats

Middle Level – Floor 3

  • This floor is closed to undergraduates (there are however comfy chairs in the lobby available for use.)
  • Upper Level – Floor 4
  • Total: 140
  • Table Seating: 20
  • Carrel Seating: 90
  • Comfy: 10
  • Uncomfy couches: 9

Amenities

  • Printers: ~20 printers available to law students, 0 Paw print printers (closest paw printer is either in Kent Hall or EC)
  • Scanners: 2 Book scanners (no login required)
  • Computers: 28 PC computers, cannot use unless a law student
  • Lighting: Ample ceiling fluorescents.
  • Outlets: Outlet located on the majority of tables and carrels
  • Bathrooms: Restrooms are located on the south end of the 4th Floor in the scanner corridor and at the south end of the 2nd Floor.
  • Food/Drink: No food allowed, drinks allowed in
  • Windows/Views: The lower level has almost no natural lighting, but the upper levels get a good amount of light. View is of the East Campus plaza.
  • Smoking: Is dangerous, however a smoking area is conveniently located outside on the East Campus plaza.
  • Books: 426,791 books, from 135 countries and in 65 different languages
  • Group Study Rooms: 2 study rooms and 1 media room available to law students for use.

Atmosphere: This is a very quiet library. It is not particularly busy or stress inducing. I would not say the atmosphere is a large selling point, but should not turn someone away.

Decor: The library can best be understood in regards to decor by acknowledging that on the lower floor of the library alone there are five separate and equally unappealing styles of carpet, with not one but two styles of carpeting on the walls alone. This library really has all of the carpeting you could ever desire. Geometric patterns of black and grey, you got it! Bright green that could easily be mistaken for artificial turf, it’s here too! And never worry, drab grey carpet definitely put in when the library opened in the sixties, oh yeah! The furnishing, lighting, and shelving channel the unique essence of office building carpenting.

History: This is Colombia’s third law library and arguably the least impressive. The first, located in at Columbia’s old 49th and madison campus had soaring neo-gothic windows and hand-crafted wooden chairs. The second library, reutilized as the East Asian library, was a beautiful example of neoclassical architecture. The final and current law library is a middling example of contemporary architecture, lacking both the clean and uncluttered style of well-executed modernist architecture and the lush ornamentation and historical allusions of revivalist architecture. Mediocre architecture doesn’t necessarily make a mediocre library

Pro tip: This library is decent, however the ample study space outside of the library in the law school building is often a far more attractive option. Lots of open space where talking is allowed. Outlets are an issue though.

 

Images courtesy of Columbia Law Library and Jack Treanor