Y and I applied to share a study carrel at the Kent State University Library with a fellow English Literature PhD candidate.
When we first come up to the office in the library, we were surprised by how much dust and dirt was in the office. I don’t believe that it had ever been cleaned. Y and I returned with a mop, duster, and rags to give the office a good going over. Unfortunately, the grime was too much even for the heavy weapons we brought to contain the mess. We will need to clean it a second time at least.
The carrel has one window overlooking part of the library’s flat roof, one large desk with a tiny drawer, and a five shelf metal book case, which I have been populating with books from home. One side of the office is dominated by a concrete support column, which substantially detracts from the floor space and room volume as compared with other carrels. Nevertheless, I believe this will be a useful office for our dissertation research and writing.
It is an interesting experience having an office in the library. I enjoy not having to pack up my laptop every time that I want to search for a book or use the restroom. Now, I can leave my things at my desk and lock the door on my way out. It also feels like I have a place to go to at the library now. Before, I never liked staying in the library for extended periods of time. I would go, find resources that I needed, and take them home. Library theft and uncomfortable chairs turned me off of using the KSU library as a place to do serious work.
Looking out over the black tar infused with small rocks and bits of buildings sticking up circled by an expanse of trees, I wonder if I will see this same scene in the future when my dissertation is done.
Dynamic Subspace 