Sterling Memorial Library is arguably one of the most iconic places on Yale’s campus. Designed to resemble a gothic cathedral, the library has gorgeous architecture and a reputation for having a wide variety of study spots. As a first-year, Sterling can seem overwhelming, but luckily I’ve had a whole month to explore it and to figure out the different spaces that are available.
Perhaps the most infamous spot among Yale students is The Stacks. The Stacks comrpises several floors of book stacks with desks in between. The Stacks offer each studier a private desk as well as a window that looks out over Yale’s campus. Some students find The Stacks slightly eerie, but I find they are a great place to buckle down and get work done with no distractions.
One of the desks in The Stacks
Another ubiquitous part of Sterling is the Starr Reference Room. This is the big study room that is right off of the nave (the main entrance) of the building. Described as one of the prettiest spaces on Yale’s campus, Starr boasts large tables, gorgeous architecture, and an extremely silent place to work. While it can be a little crowded, Starr is a great option if you’re looking for ambiance and a silent place to study.
The gorgeous Starr Reference Room
Sterling is also home to a wide array of reading and reference rooms. While there are dozens to choose from, two of my favorites are the Slavic Reading Room and the Andrews Room. The Slavic Reading Room lives on the fourth floor and is filled with Slavic texts, private desks, and comfortable chairs. The Andrews Room is on the second floor and it boasts large windows, lots of bookshelves, and big tables to work at. While the reading rooms are slightly harder to find, they have great ambiance and are usually nearly empty, which is ideal for when I need to dig into ancient Confucian tradition or complete lots of French grammar exercises.
The Slavic Reading Room
Sterling is also home to subject-specific libraries, sun-lit courtyards, and common areas for meetings. I want to highlight one favorite space among my friends: the Music Library. The Music LIbrary is unique in that it covers two floors and is home to a wide array of private desks and tables. I like to go to the Music Library when I really need to get work done but I don’t want the intensity of The Stacks.
One view of the Music Library
Personally, my favorite spaces include The Stacks and reading rooms like the Slavic Reading Room since they provide lots of privacy while still delivering on the beautiful architecture associated with the building. There is still much of Sterling that I have not explored, but this sort of tasting menu of spots that I have tried has given me a good picture of what Sterling is like and how I should pick my study spots in general.
