The Business & Economics Library may not have the charm of some of Columbia’s more prominent libraries, but at least it gives you prime access to Chef Mike’s. 

I think it’s probably safe to say that the Business & Economics Library in Uris is not most people’s favorite library. I can understand why—often dubbed one of the “ugliest buildings on campus,” Uris isn’t exactly known for its charming atmosphere. If, like me, you’re not a business or econ major, it’s not the natural first choice of study spots. 

But somehow—and I don’t know why—Uris is extremely conducive to productivity for me. Ever since I discovered this library in my sophomore fall, I’ve been inexplicably drawn to it. Picture this: it was October 2023, and I—foolishly thinking that I was prepared for my first all-humanities classes midterms season—was wildly behind on four essays. Nowadays, as a seasoned procrastinator, I wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed, but back then, it truly felt like the end of days. I was getting lunch with a friend, pondering my impending deadlines, when they suggested we go to the library before our respective 2:40s. “Which library?” I asked, certain every library would be packed in the middle of the day during midterms. Their answer shocked and confused me: Uris.

As a frequenter of Chef Mike’s Sub Shop, I was aware that there was a library in Uris, but I had always been too intimidated to enter it. I was unadventurous when it came to libraries back then, tending to stick with the classics. Not quite knowing what to expect, I decided to trust my friend and venture into the unknown. 

As other Uris-frequenters will know, the library has some very interesting light fixtures. Rather than the warm-toned, hanging lights of the Butler reading room or the modern, minimalist fixtures of Milstein, Uris features a truly eye-catching array of fluorescent white lights arranged in what appears to be the shape of the sun.

This, I assume, is to remind those inside Uris of what the outdoors look like—despite 60% of the walls being windows, very little natural light manages to penetrate the ground floor of the library.

Upon entering Uris, these lights were naturally the first thing to catch my attention. The second thing I noticed was, of course, that Uris is not a quiet library. This may be one of the most controversial features of Uris—if you prefer to study in anything resembling silence, it is not the place for you. The tables and chairs are arranged for group study, and while there are single-chair desks placed throughout the mezzanine-level of the library, there really isn’t any way to avoid the noise. 

Before my first Uris experience, I was under the impression that I worked best in silence, but I’ve since discovered that I enjoy the background noise of chatter. Working in Uris is like working in a cafe, but without the atmosphere or nice decor or coffee. While it’s true that the noise can be distracting if you end up sitting next to a particularly loud group, on the whole, the noise levels are manageable depending on your preferences.

To my great surprise, my first Uris experience was quite productive. I came back again, and again, and again, and next thing I knew, I was making progress on my midterms. Something about the uncomfortable chairs and gloomy atmosphere made it the perfect place to write. Maybe it’s easier to ignore your surroundings when your surroundings are unpleasant, or maybe I was just so desperate to leave Uris I subconsciously hastened to complete my work. Either way, Uris remains my favorite last-resort to this day. 

I also found out while reading up on Uris that it used to look like this before they added the front piece in 1984 in an attempt to “soften the building’s appearance,” so maybe we should just be grateful for what we have. 

Old Uris via WikiCU

All other images via Bwog Archives