My favorite place to read at Dartmouth is not actually on campus. Lounging on the Green with a book is nice, of course, but when it comes to curling up on a cushy sofa with a great view and a good book, the Howe Library Hanover's charming and impressive public library has simply got campus beat. No offense, Baker-Berry, but you kind of kill my soul.
The Howe Library, by contrast, radiates happiness. Even the bleakest displays of Hanover weather don't diminish the library's charm. Maybe it's gross outside and maybe you just bombed your Math 8 midterm, but enter and you will be merry. Trust me. From layout to atmosphere to book selection, it's 100 percent adorable.
Take my first visit, for example. I stumbled upon the Howe by chance my freshman Fall. Previously, I hadn't even realized that Hanover had its own public library. Though I may be 19 years old in appearance, I am 90 in spirit, and the prospect of spending the day exploring the local library was almost as exciting as when I found out I could stream my local NPR station on my iPod. Entering the building an imposing structure that somehow manages to appear quaint despite its considerable size was like a religious experience for me.
The library aside from housing an impressive collection of books of course, is chock full of comfy chairs. This may sound silly, but I strongly believe that comfortable chairs and great books should always come in pairs. What good is a plush armchair, after all, without a good book to go along with it, and how much can you really enjoy a book without a comfortable place to sit back and relax? The geniuses behind the Howe Library clearly understood my theory and they put it to good use.
Aside from the preponderance of prime seating options, the staff is genuinely nice. The librarian who signed me up for a card was absolutely thrilled to show me around, give me a tour and chat about their extensive selection. (This positive experience stood in stark contrast to my first encounter with the staff of the "Information" desk at Baker Berry. Me: "I can't find this book for my research paper." Supposed Information Provider: "Yeah, finding books here can be, like, really hard." That was really helpful. Thanks.)
The Howe holds an impressive collection of excellent pleasure reading material, including a large section in the front devoted exclusively to newly released titles. The Howe also has almost every book you will ever need for an English class at Dartmouth.
While I would strongly encourage you to try reading for fun at the Howe, it's also a superb study location. The quiet study room on the first floor, for example, exudes quintessential New England charm: old, fussy furniture (including a couch on which everyone inevitably falls asleep it's pretty amusing), old-fashioned portraits and a gorgeous fireplace. I highly recommend it, but I do ask that you really do remain quiet if you're going to hit it up. If you want to talk, there are plenty of other places to do that.
Like downstairs, under the staircase, where you can lounge in one of many plush armchairs while enjoying a superb view from the large glass windows. Or upstairs, where you can claim a table or lurk in the designated "teen area." More serious studiers can also reserve a room.
So, welcome to the Howe. Whatever your ideal reading setup, I guarantee you'll find a satisfactory spot in Hanover's gem of a library. Just don't take my spot. Bottom floor, third table from the stairs, I've got dibs.