The Leslie F. Malpass Library (most commonly referred to simply as Malpass) is one of the most notable buildings to be found on the WIU campus. Opened in 1978, the library supports a unique modernist appearance featuring four triangular protrusions against a rectangular base. On the inside, six separate floors, each filled with their own books, study spaces, and utilities, create one of the most divisive debates among WIU students: What is the best floor of Malpass Library? With this controversial question at hand, I decided to explore each floor of the library, weigh their individual ups and downs, and finally, rank them against each other.

The First Floor

The first floor of Malpass can be a bit of a mixed bag. Notably, it contains the facility’s computer lab which can prove to be a useful utility in the case of a broken laptop (which happened to myself just recently). While undoubtedly the smallest for general use, there are a few nooks and study spaces to inhabit. There is also the university’s new social media lab, though you’ll have to weave it intently through your schedule as it features a relatively tight set of hours opened compared to the rest of the library. The big problem with the basement is that it can be very hit or miss with noise. While there are tables in the general lobby area, one shouldn’t even consider working there as they will have to hear the echoes of the whole library coming down to them. In the rooms, noise is heavily luck dependent. During my last downstairs visit, my writing was constantly interrupted by two staff members discussing plans for a renovation of a currently unused archival space. Other times, it has been mostly quiet. Most days, the gamble is not worth taking, but if you need the computer lab it will do. Outside of that, there are not really many reasons to be down here, except maybe for a visit to the vending machines.

The Second Floor

There are a lot of useful features on the second floor: printers, the reference desk, the University Writing Center, and so forth. It also has the most unique set of material of any floor, featuring, the reference section, the popular reading section, DVDs, board games, table top roleplaying games, and even a small collection of video games. Because of all of these, I do find myself returning to the floor a lot. However, I rarely ever stay because the floor is just too noisy. Given its slew of resources and general accessibility, the first floor consistently hosts the most people. It’s hard to argue that this is strictly a bad thing, but it absolutely does not make for a good reading environment. Good luck getting through the essay when the loudest freshman you’ve ever heard is struggling with basic printer controls while a poor librarian does their best to remedy their obliviousness! The garden lounge is nice, though.

The Third Floor

The third floor is your first real option if you need a nice place to study or write in peace. Some sections of the floor can get loud, as it still is one of the more regularly populated sections of the library. Though there are still enough secluded areas that allow a quiet and pleasant study session to be accomplished. It has a very diverse selection of seating, including comfortable sofas and chair, large tables, and desks. It is also the first floor to have closed off study spaces for individuals and groups. My favorite part of the floor is undoubtedly the periodical section since it is both a very useful resource and located in a secluded area. I will give the warning that the third floor is the only floor of the library where the main interior section is not a complete loop, so those unfamiliar with the layout might have trouble navigating it compared to other floors. If you can figure your way around it and find a nice secluded spot with a comfortable seat, it can be a solid floor to work on.

The Fourth Floor

In many ways, the fourth floor is a combination of many of the aspects of the first three floors and the above two floors, which have yet to be covered yet. It is the first floor that houses the library’s general collection of books and does not have as many unique resources as the first three do. However, unlike the floors above it, it is not marked as a silent space, so it can get somewhat noisy depending on your luck. Due to the library’s exterior protrusions, this floor has a somewhat unconventional floor plan that results in it having less space when compared to other floors. I might also add that much of this remaining space is in front of windows or open balcony’s, which results in the floor feeling generally more exposed than others. With these factors, I do find myself returning to this floor less than others, but there are still some pleasant spots to be found throughout (as long as you can guarantee the silence of those around you). Particularly, I am very fond of a set of chairs that are placed in front of a window overlooking the library’s east entrance, facing the campus mall with all its trees and winding sidewalk paths; it makes for a very pleasant working spot in the afternoon on a cloudy fall day.

The Fifth Floor (see cover image)

Compared to other floors, the fifth floor lacks utility but more than makes up for it in its wide selection of places to read and study. There are many enclosed desks, wide tables, couches, seats, and study rooms laid throughout the floor; not once have I ever been unable to find an isolated space. This floor also sports a solid collection of artwork, with my favorite being a model city located on the east side of the floor named Gandalf that was donated by its creator, George W. Shadwick. Most importantly though, it is consistently the quietest floor on the building, as unlike the fourth floor, it is marked exclusively as a silent space. This makes it the Honestly, I don’t really have much else to say about the fifth floor. It’s straightforward and fulfills its purpose very well, making it my go-to floor since my freshman year.

The Sixth Floor

The sixth and final floor is a solid one. The biggest flaw is that it has a similar floor plan to the fourth floor, resulting in a lack of space and seclusion. With this said, something the sixth floor has over any floor are the views of both campus and the rest of the library below. As I write this, I am currently looking out a window as rain gently pours down over the campus, and it is lovely. The floor is generally quiet, with the only sounds being from people echoing below. From an English major’s perspective, I also find it has one of the best selections of books as it contains the library’s literature section. With all of this in mind, the sixth floor makes for a good spot to get some coursework done. Just make sure to watch out for wasps because they can occasionally be found up here.

Conclusion

Having examined the pros and cons of each floor I have concluded that my final ranking from worst to best goes:

6. The Second Floor

5. The First Floor

4. The Fourth Floor

3. The Third Floor

2. The Sixth Floor

1. The Fifth Floor

The truth of the matter is that there really aren’t any floors without their merits. Even the first floor, as noisy as it can be, has plenty of reasons to return to it. In writing and researching this, I’ve gained appreciation for some of the floors I hadn’t really given much thought to before. I could see myself heading up to the top floor to get a nice view of campus while I write. Although, fundamentally, I am still inclined to believe that the fifth floor is the best.

Edited by Cecilia Garcia Luengas