"It's an incredible design," the sophomore says. "It probably should win an architectural award."

In terms of doing research, Widener, with its 10 floors of nothing but books, has the edge.

Underground Pusey Library also has. good research facilities, but for some it can be even scarier than Widener.

The movable stacks, labeled with signs saying `Do absolutely no levitating,' could potentially crush the unwitting student who removed both his feet from the floor.

"I've heard of it happening. It happened to someone I work with," says Jessica R. Martin, a Boston College junior who works at the Harvard Law School library.

"He was sitting [on a shelf] with his feet up. If your feet aren't on the floor, you get crushed; the sensors don't feel it," she says. "I think [the Pusey automated sliding stacks] really are dangerous. You have to keep your feet on the ground."

For studying, undergraduates head for Lamont, with its big comfy chairs.

"I worked here because I knew that everyone I know comes here," says Zaref. "This one's more fun [to work in]."

People have started to discover the Dunster sophomore's secret Farnsworth, or sleeping, Room. "It's smaller [with] nice windows, nicer lighting," says the Lowell senior.

Library employees recognize that for students, Lamont may be less intimidating.

"We're friendly," says Lamont research librarian Amy M. Kautzman. "For people who don't like to figure out Library of Congress versus Old Widener [cataloguing systems], we're pretty straight-forward."

"People tell me, both undergraduates and graduates, that it's easier just coming in [Lamont] and getting a book than going into Widener--going up three floors and down six floors and around the corner," she says.

But Lamont associate librarian Jon Lanham '70 stresses that each library in the Harvard system has its own strengths.

"For undergraduates, there's the obvious fact that they need to use Lamont and Hilles for reserves," Lanham says. "We encourage everyone to explore the resources everywhere."