The new Marquand Library is the perfect place to people-watch

Coming back from spring break means returning to the familiar rise-and-grind culture on campus. As the end of the semester steadily approaches, I have found my usual lock-in spots too comfortable for my current demands, so I sought a much-needed change in scenery. From the Quadrangle Club couches to the Firestone cubicle buried deep underground, I’ve tried a wide variety of environments. Loud and energetic to a still silence you’d be scared to break, my previously explored study spots needed a refresher.

A desperate attempt to escape the sudden spring rain led me to an unexpected place. The Marquand Library of Art & Archeology reopened on Jan. 27, after the art museum complex construction placed the library in temporary reading rooms on the Firestone Library C Floor.

Visible from McCosh walk, Marquand has windows that give a fish tank-like viewing effect from the outside of the library. It sits in front of the landscape of students hustling off to class and clusters of tourists making their way to the neighboring art museum.

I walked along the freshly smoothed pavement across from Murray Dodge Cafe. Pushing through the double glass doors, you’re prompted to show your bag to a student employee, and then, like Firestone, scan in to enter the space. Unlike Firestone, however, even water bottles are restricted from Marquand. While the current spring showers bring a chilly breeze, the future summer heat might make this annoying.

Walking in, I found students settled, studying at dark wooden tables. The space was simple in design and minimal in furniture. The recent reopening of the library was still obvious, with plenty of shelves waiting to be filled with books. The first floor contains mainly work space, accompanied by a rare books reading room and a conference room.

The other floors, both above and below the main floor, featured mostly stacks of books, save for the occasional empty table by another full-length window. What is unique for a study spot, however, is an aerial view of the Princeton University Art Museum’s entryway. From the vantage point of Marquand’s upper floors, the massive mosaic by Nick Cave, “Let me kindly introduce myself. They call me MC Prince Brighton.,” is visible from a new perspective.

Much in the way that books gradually populated the shelves in Marquand, students took time to discover the space in the months following its opening. The unveiling of Marquand wasn’t grand, and every time I mentioned the library, I was met with the confused “huh” to the resolved “ohh.” But this lack of attention made it appealing; its location is slightly hidden, yet it has one of the best views of one of the busiest crosswalks on campus. In contrast to this busyness, Marquand offers a balanced, tranquil environment of focused silence.

The only thing missing is a pair of couches right by the window to complete the people-watching experience. And while the space is still waiting for more books to move in, a couple of throw pillows and charging ports would be welcome additions as well.

Support nonprofit student journalism. Donate to the ‘Prince.’ Donate now »

Functionally, as a space, Marquand is well-suited to graduate students in the Department of Art and Archeology. Cubicles designed for graduate students and professors alike were off to the end of the bookshelves, which I did not realize as I settled into a cubicle. The built-in outlets, sleek and functional, distracted me from seeing the placard displaying the name of a graduate student or faculty member. After putting two and two together, I retreated back to the main floor.

Returning to my rightful place, I settled for a desk off to the side of the grand windows. Overall, the ground floor is nice and open. If you’re lucky enough to secure a table by the floor-to-ceiling window, Marquand is a nice lock-in spot to add to your usual rotation. Marquand’s atmosphere doesn’t pressure you to work or punish you for taking a break. And on a campus like our own, taking that quiet step back is sometimes the best way to move forward. Philosophies aside, what makes Marquand unique is not what happens within the walls, but what happens on the other side of the glass. If the work on your laptop bores you, or if you’re trying to procrastinate like me, watching the peaceful spring rain outside is a great reason to explore the library.

Amanda Hugas is a member of the Class of 2027 and a senior writer for The Prospect. She can be reached by her email at ah0942[at]princeton.edu.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.