Underhill Library
There are so many kinds of libraries: huge, urban public libraries, elementary and high school libraries, university libraries, community libraries, nursery school libraries, general libraries, specialty libraries. Our changing relationship with physical books in the digital age, drives changes in library design. Our relationship with libraries, however, is still a constant. We enjoy being in the company of others as we read, learn, study. We benefit from the opportunity to collaborate and share thoughts in the environment that libraries provide. Underhill Music Library on the Swarthmore College campus delightfully fills that need. The students who love it consider it theirs: it is tucked away on the edge of campus; it is small and quiet; it is a special place.
Improved, modernized lighting better protects the collection while brightening the space. The changes are perhaps best symbolized by a simple change in furniture in the upper reading room, where study carrels that blocked the floor-to-ceiling windows were replaced with comfortable lounge chairs in which to read while enjoying the view.
This project reconfigured several of the Library’s spaces to make it more functional, to improve accessibility, and to make more space for people.
Read here a Swathmore student’s, “Journey to the Underhill Library.”