The above quote is from Celia Hartmann (Class of 1978). Read the full memory below:

Never mind the Library’s collections and the study spaces – and the cookies – the Rock ladies’ rooms had the best graffiti ever: profane, witty, filthy, funny, heartbreaking, political, personal, universal. When you went, you never knew what you might get.

The above quote is from Yannis (Class of 1994). Read the full memory below:

Twenty-five years ago, first year in grad school…My Sunday evening’s schedule was fixed: Dinner at the Ratty together with other Greeks and then off to the Rock for the latest harvest of Greek Newspapers—Internet was at its early childhood, if not still in its infancy, then.
The Rock also hosted some scientific sections that were not covered by the SciLi. Quite often, I would take the opportunity and wander among the bookshelves looking for the rare treasure. On one such occasion I accidentally ran into a fellow Greek who was trying to pick a book on “Contract Bridge” and introduce it to us as our new pastime. He thought I was looking for the same and that it was an “omen”. Indeed, Contract Bridge did become our favorite pastime and has been a dear hobby ever since. In this process, he became a very close friend and also ended up marrying my sister!
Twenty years ago; graduation: The Rock had organized a book sale, and I seized the chance. I still remember that sunny day and my excitement as I went from stall to stall picking quality titles to take back home and which have been accompanying me ever since.
In this light, the Rock accomplished many of its noble goals. It supported and nourished the multicultural community of Brown, not only within the restrictive academic confines, but also taking a much broader view on life and personal development.

The above quote is from Nora Taylor (Class of 1984). Read the full memory below:

Anyone who graduated in the 1980s is sure to remember the smoking room in the lower level. When I needed a break from studying, I would go find my friends there and bang on the glass to signal them to come out and chat. We would hang out in the sofa chairs and inevitably run into others. It was a prime socializing spot. And indeed, I did meet my husband there (although we eventually broke up, but then got together again more recently) The idea of a smoking room in a library conjures a different era for sure, as does the fact, that I encountered my first word processor at the Rock. I typed my first research paper on a device other than a typewriter in one of the newly installed computer rooms, near the card catalog (remember that antique contraption?) There were no printers, so I had to send my file to the Computer Center and pick it up 24hrs later. This seemed very modern and innovative at the time, but I can imagine that today, the library is used very differently by the students.

The above quote is from Nancy L. Spencer (Class of 1984). Read the full memory below:

Blowing bubbles from the second floor balcony during exam week and watching them float down and land on unsuspecting friends…

The above quote is from Marie Trenga (Class of 1981). Read the full memory below:

Group Primal Scream outside the rock during finals.

The above quote is from Ray Chambers (Class of 2003). Read the full memory below:

Reading tons and tons of political theory books. Loved the quiet room! Heavy bookbag. Time to get serious!

The above quote is from Jessica Kovar Lichtenstein (Class of 1983). Read the full memory below:

I rarely went to the Rock during high pressure times: during reading period or finals, the atmosphere seemed so intense, so sociable, that it was sometimes hard to actually study there. The Rock was the place I went when I was in danger of procrastinating. I would head there on Saturdays after lunch, and would feel self-conscious browsing in the attractive periodicals room. I was most at home in the Rock during my senior year, digging deep in the more obscure basement stacks to find the right books for a final project. I realized then that it was my last chance to do this, before regular life, with ordinary library cards, would intrude.

The above quote is from Eric Shorter (Class of 1989). Read the full memory below:

My fondest memories of “The Rock” are all about the sunsets. After classes where done for the day, and I’d need to focus my attention on political science, (theories of justice, justice as fairness, from Locke to Kantian notions and such), I’d take myself to the upper floors and into the stacks to find a good window seat. I remember the Rockefeller Library having the best views of the setting sun over downtown Providence and Federal Hill, to take me away from pondering Tacitus, if only for a brief few minutes to smile in awe of the beauty of the world.

The above quote is from Alex “Figg” Newton (Class of 1966). Read the full memory below:

On November the 9, 1965, I was studying in the main reading room of the Rock around 8 pm and was momentarily gazing outward over the city when all of a sudden the lights of the entire city including the Rock itself went out—completely. It was truly remarkable seeing Providence just go black. Many of us at the Rock figured the lights would all come back on momentarily, so we didn’t move too quickly. But it soon became clear that this wasn’t just a momentary problem and we all wandered through the dark back to our respective dorms—which of course were also dark. We quickly learned that the entire northeast was in a similar situation, so we settled back and amused ourselves as studying was clearly over for the evening. One thing for sure—I was in the perfect seat for the rare event!

The above quote is from Stephanie Powell Shaw (Class of 1985). Read the full memory below:

My most vivid memory of the Rock is as an upperclassman working in the “stacks”. My campus work study job was to re-stock the books onto the shelves. I was assigned the titles in the lower floors of the Rock where they kept really old books on religion. I’d spend most of my “work” study hours reading the old manuscripts, etc. instead of stocking the books! Awesome experience and the eye opening things I learned from those books stayed with me all of these years.