Wow it's been a really long time since I updated...Sky is kicking my butt. But here I am. I have finished, luckily, with my homework a little earlier than expected and I figured that before I go over to the bookstore to get myself a new binder, I would update and tell you all how things are. It's funny to say you all, since I never really know who reads this. For all I know it's me and Skyler just reading each other's posts. Anyways, check out all his posts with all the awesome pictures and the video from Lauren's surprise birthday. All that was super fun and the pics, of course, are awesome. Anyway, I am here, at my school, just basking in the newness of our library. Our library is so awesome! Personally, besides Snoopy (the automated retrieval system), I think our library is way nicer than SSUs. And theirs is really nice, too. The thing I like about them both is the natural lighting and the variety of places to be. Our library certainly surpasses SSU in the amount of computers just available to anyone, though. But SSU has a much richer collection of media and books alike. Obviously since they needed a whole new indexing and retrieval system. But wow. The $45 million put into this is totally worth it. Every time I come in here it is truly packed with people doing work. I always though no body did work! Everyone I talk to is like, "Yeah, I haven't got that much homework." But I seriously am slaving over homework at least 2 or 3 hours a day. And that doesn't include the days I work, in which those 2 or 3 hours is transfered to another day totally 4 or 5 hours. But it's alright because I have a really great resource now. I don't know if any of you had been to the old library here, but let me tell you a little bit about it. That library was openned in 1971, meaning it was designed sometime in the 60s and then finally gotten started in 1969-1970. Now, from what I hear from those days, those were not boring or sad times. But from the look of this hellhole of a library, you could safely assume that NOBODY used it in those days. How could they? There was a total of maybe 8 windows. And they weren't even windows, they were doors that were sealed shut except for emergency exit. Now, when you get in there, with the yellow (yes, not happy flourescent or even white) light, you may have become suicidal without even realizing it. Maybe that's why college became about smoking and drinking: libraries were far too dark and boring and depressing that people needed some way to get happy. You know!? It's absurd. I studied there maybe about ten times last semester, usually right before a chemistry test. I did that too the semester before, again for chemistry. I would try to get a seat by the "window" so that I didn't have to worry about dying before everyone else who couldn't get out should the San Andreas fault decide to shift. Ay. Pretty pessimistic sounding, but still, it's the way it was. It was just way too depressing. But moving on to better things: the new library!
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Things I love about the new library:
1. Four floors of nice, quiet study areas and big spacious tables. (The old library had little partitioned desks that I thought were sorta clausterphobic.)
2. The fantastic lighting and beautiful fixtures. Everything is modern and streamlined. Perfect for the new college student. The freshmen are lucky to not have had only the Plover Library for a year or more.
3. 282 computers! No more, no less. The old library had about 18, if not less. And there were 6 sitting ones and the rest standing. Now they are half and half, and brand new DELLS that don't have shitty monitors with the SRJC Library homepage burnt into the pixels or whatever.
4. Cool architecture. The building inside essentially sprouts out from a central lobby. In each lobby there is a directory telling you where you are and where you can go from there. Even what is on the floor for you. It's ingenious. So, what would you call it, museum-y in an informative and useful way. Not to mention, the outsides still matches the rest of the campus. It's just so nice.
5. Panoramic views of the campus. The windows lining EVERY side of the building give you a birds-eye view of the campus. When you're locked up in one building for the whole semester (like me) you rarely get to see everything. This way I can enjoy the sights and make super good use of my time to get my work done so that I can sleep at night and have a social life.
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You got it right? It's simply (in an english accent) SPECTACULAR. Alright, enough raving about the library. On to my classes! I am currently taking Math 1B, Philosophy 3, Engineering 6, Engineering 25, and Physics 1. Now, math is no easy feat. Second semester calculus is intimidating to say the least. But I do love my engineering classes. Both classes I am the only girl. That is sorta intimidating as well, but at the same time empowering. It makes me feel as though I was the only girl brave enough to get myself out there and doing these things. I have joined the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) through my teacher, so that should be cool. All that is left to do is contact some peeps at Cal Poly so that I can get on track and be there for fall of 2008! It is going to be so exciting. Well, I think that is about all I have to say about that. My other classes are just other classes. Besides, now I gotta get to my personal life. =D Have a great holiday weekend everyone! I'll update again soon! Leave us some comments, we sure love 'em.
~Monique
vvv...Pretty new Library...vvv
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