While I've always known Booth Library to be one of EIU's most beautiful buildings, it was not until I became a student that I realized how wonderful it truly is. Here, I count down the top five reasons I adore the Mary J. Booth Library.
1. The building, itself.
I really love Booth Library as a building. And I mean really. To me, its architecture, golden color, and glass paneling give the building an elegance that is both modern and timeless. While the front of the library boasts an impressive stone staircase and some of the building's original architecture, the back is actually my favorite part. While it has no staircase or stone embellishments, the back of Booth extends into the small courtyard that houses EIU's clock tower. Also, it is only from the back of the building that you can look out the windows and get a bird's eye view of the South Quad.
2. It has a variety of study spaces.
Because of its huge size, Booth is able to offer EIU students a variety of different study options. For example, portions of the third floor are reserved as quiet study areas, meaning there is to be no loud noise, cell phone usage, or talking. Bigger groups can gather on the fourth floor, which has two large computer labs, study tables, and study rooms. And lastly, the ground floor of Booth has several desk-like spaces where individuals can study quietly.
It is because Booth accommodates every type of studier that I now spend more and more time there.
3. It has such a huge collection of literature.
So, Booth Library has a lot of books. And I do mean a lot. Because it's a research library, Booth is home to over 1 million books and approximately 1.2 million microtexts, making it invaluable to a smaller university like EIU. As a result, Booth has resources, books, and journal articles on almost every topic imaginable—making it far easier for students and faculty to find sources for their research.
I also happen to genuinely enjoy wandering between the different levels of the library and through the many (many, many, many) shelves of books. Even then, it's hard to grasp the massive amount of information and literature Booth houses.
4. The Ballenger Teachers Center.
Yes, I am a little bit biased on this one because I'm an education major. But, the Ballenger Teachers Center is impressive, regardless of whether or not you're in education. The entire center covers 4,750 square feet, contains over 40,000 preK-12 curriculum collections, and is home to hundreds of children's books. The center also has teaching and learning materials for pre-service teachers, student teachers, and EIU faculty. These learning materials include (but are not limited to): bulletin board sets, math manipulatives, games, puppets, and flash cards.
The Ballenger Teachers Center is named after Florence Coles Ballenger, who graduated from the Eastern Illinois State Teachers College in 1925. She was so passionate about education and learning that, when she died in 1999 at the age of 92, she left one third of her $3.6 million estate to EIU.
By providing its students and educators with thousands of books and educational materials, the Ballenger Teachers Center has solidified itself as one of EIU's most prized resources.
5. You can check out movies (and music) for free.
Something I didn't realize until I became a student at Eastern was that Booth Library has a rather robust collection of movies, TV shows, and music (which includes sheet music)—all of which you can check out for free with your Panthercard. While Booth may not carry movies that have just been released, their media section is still impressive and helpful if you don't have Netflix and/or don't want to pay money to rent a movie. (Be careful you don't return anything late, though. I speak from experience when I say that those late fees will get you!)
Thanks for reading this article! I hope you have a beautiful day.
