Library West, Smathers Libraries

Largest Library on campus, and can be the loudest.
Pros: Huge, epic resources, open ²⁴⁄₇ at times, computers aplenty, scanners, lounge areas aplenty, Starbucks in the lobby. Meeting room check outs for student groups (stupid group projects *grumble*). They actually allow drinks and non-​stinky foods in there. Nice. The 6^th Floor reserved for Graduate students (and its usually quiet — very nice)
Cons: That stupid 2^nd floor check out station and the fact that you have to go DOWN to get to most of the books. Hordes of yappy undergrads. Patrons to stupid to realize that you cannot have cell conversations in LIBRARIES.
Stupid: 7 day check out only and 3 maximum on DVDs and Videotapes. Yes, I said «Videotapes» Welcome to 1985 kids.
Needs: A drive up book drop for easier return of media — over on the East side would be ideal.
So — whether you like the place or not, If you are a student, you’re probably gonna be there fairly often. Suck it up and deal.

I had been meaning to write a review of Library West for some time and seeing Jim B. beat me to it only reminds me that it’s an institution that very much deserves a review. Library West is called such because it is, in official terms, the western portion of the UF Smathers Libraries. It holds UF’s main collections in the humanities and social sciences whereas some special collections are held in the eastern portion of the library (an older, wonderfully collegiate-​gothic building). The Marston Science Library holds UF’s non-​medical science and engineering collections.
Library West was given a major makeover back in 2005 which closed the library for over a full year, forced the collections into storage, and the library staff had to move over to Marston. At the time it was a true disaster, however, the renovations were very much needed. Any student who complains now about Library West needs to see photos (and I have some!) of how bad it was circa 2003. Now, we have ample room for study and it is easy to move about the stacks. Neither were extand before the renovation and some of the upper floors (which were all stacks at the time save the administrative offices) were quite dark and confusing. There were times I was afraid to venture on to the sixth floor in fear a vampire would carry me off. Therefore, I feel the renovations are a great success overall. The fact you enter on the first floor and have to go up to the second floor to enter the library proper or check out books however is annoying and confusing and I have mixed views on their policy of allowing food and drink into the library: I like it, however I am concerned it will lead to pest problems and already there are a lot of stains here and there.
The Starbucks, which I reviewed in a seperate review, is a real godsend. It could be larger, but it is quite nice. Also, the north façade of the building is very impressive and lends a good impression of the university and its libraries to passersby on University Avenue. Overall, I’m impressed with Library West: it is as a building steps ahead of Brown or UC Berkeley’s main libraries now which has to be something of a credit to it and UF.