W. E. B. Du Bois Library

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W.E.B. Dubois Library at night

The W.E.B. Du Bois Library, located at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst is the tallest library in the world at 26 stories and 297 feet (90.5m) tall. Built in 1974, the library is home of the memoirs and papers of the distinguished African-American activist of its namesake, W.E.B. DuBois, as well as being the depository for other important collections, such as the papers of the late congressman Silvio O. Conte. The library also functions as a federal depository library under the United States Government Printing Office's library deposit program.

The library also offers several computer labs and a tutoring center. The bottom floor of the tower houses the Learning Commons which contains many free to use PC and Mac computer terminals, wi-fi internet access, group study rooms, help desks, and a Writing Center where students can get tips on paper writing. Some of the lower floors also have quite study areas equipped with wi-fi internet and spacious study tables. The upper floors contain books from various academic fields, including a sizable East Asian Collection, Art Collections and Thesis Archive. However, not all upper floors are book stacks and there are many special offices and study carrels that are available to graduate, doctorate, and post-doctorate students seeking a private space to study in. The topmost floors of the library are a popular destination for those wishing to see a panoramic view of the campus and surrounding Berkshire Mountains.

The library is accessible to University of Massachusetts Amherst students 24 hours a day (except on Friday, Saturday, and select holidays when the library closes at 9 PM) during the normal academic year.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] Railings and falling bricks

There is a rumor that due to shoddy construction of the library, it developed a habit of popping out bricks at random which would then plummet onto students below. The railings surrounding the library at ground level are designed to keep passers-by out of the range of potentially fatal falling bricks. In fact, this is an exaggeration with a seed of truth. In the 1970s, the building began "spalling" or shedding brick chips, not whole bricks. The first barrier was made of hay bales, followed by an "ugly" chain link fence which was later replaced by the low black railings still seen in various incarnations today. [1]

Related to this story is the claim that the library originally had books only on every other floor. According to UMass lore, the architects failed to account for the weight of the books when designing the library. This is a popular urban legend common to many colleges, in addition to the rumor that the library is sinking into the ground by 1/4 to 1/2 inch per year (due to being built on swampy soil).