Ode to the China Room
The library has survived another two weeks of around the clock use and some misuse of the facilities by students writing, researching and studying for exams. Students had been staking out tables in carrels weeks in advance and once the library went on the open 24 hours, seven days a week schedule, all things seemed immovable; books, computers, pillows and baskets of snacks. Someone or their books occupied every nook in the library.
Shirley Reid made coffee each day for the students and Dean Cheryl Steele sent over bags of chocolate treats. One evening, long-time library residents, Alysha Norbury and Helen Bradshaw, both 2010s, hosted a 20 minute “Silent Dance Party.” The Dean also sent a good humor truck with fresh ice cream! The seniors have to complete their exams early and once finished, they signed up to help cover the long hours we were open. We had so many in the class of 2010. Emma Parker, Sarina Catalon, Jasmine Toliver, Courtney Cunningham, Mary Rachel Taylor, Zehra Asghar, Alle Taylor, Sara Maroney, Kate Rose, Philicia Reid, Andy Jones and Aili McGill, you will all be sorely missed when we open in August for the beginning of a new academic year. You will be very hard to replace!
As the week progresses, fewer and fewer students would be in the library until eventually all were gone. Piles of books were still left on tables and in the carrels. The library staff has been busily sorting and shelving these books in advance of Sweet Briar College Reunion weekend.
The Irene Vongehr Vincent’40 Chinese Collections is housed in a separate room of the library. It has over 3,000 circulating books as well as many rare items kept in the rare book collection. Students camp out in this room during exams and here is a nice poem left by one of the students:
Ode to the
China Room
We come here for finals to get our work done
We slaved and we scribbled ‘til up come the sun
Sometimes we slacked – yes it is true
But how can you not watch cute cats on YouTube?
Armed with laptops for our portfolios,
Fueled by caffeine and wondrous Oreos,
We worked ‘til the morn,’ with grins on our faces,
Because here in the China room, of all places,
We discovered a board that let us get through the night,
By writing bad poems, describing our plight.
V.J.B.
The library puts on display books by alumnae whose classes are participating in this year’s Reunion. Many of the returning alums will stay in their old dorm rooms with a former roommate, which fortunately has been upgraded with air conditioning in most cases. Many will stop by the Library with friends and family in tow, to see Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Jordan and especially the Browsing Room. They often their families, “Here is where we slept.” No wonder we had to have all of the furniture refurbished! We know all attendees will have a fabulous time this weekend.
The family of Sweet Briar College women includes many published authors. The books by members of classes from the 0’s and 5’s years are on display in the Kitty Corbet Powell’38 Reading Room at the Cochran Library.