An Observational Report of the Zabar Art Library

 The Zabar Art Library

The elevator doors open and somehow the sound penetrates much further here than it did on other floors. This is the last jarring noise students will hear before entering the Zabar Art Library. All the way on the 16th floor, the library is an oasis away from the bustling environment that lies beneath it. When entering the room students are met with a brief welcoming glance from the staff monitoring the library, but they are also greeted by the view of the cityscape. The warm sunlight, seeping through the skyscrapers, softens the fluorescent lighting of the room. Some sit on the benches along the tall windows, tracing the horizon with their gaze. Others station themselves at one of the wooden tables, where only a distant siren or the horn of a car can momentarily break their concentration. The book shelves are parallel to the windows. Although they remain largely untouched, they offer knowledge about art from any place, during any time. They bring an inviting vibrance to the room. The carpeted floors are well-worn, revealing every step they have cushioned. The whirring of computers, the sounds of soft typing, the turn of a page and an occasional whisper become the symphony of this space. This is where a test is aced and a draft becomes the final copy. But it is also where a tired mind can recharge.