MSE steppin' up to the challenge - The library fills the void left by our lack of a student union. How delicious.

There's a reason Hopkins doesn't have a Student Union; for better or worse, we have the library.

Serving up a multi-purpose duty on campus, the Milton S. Eisenhower Library (MSE) acts as quiet study haven, invaluable research center, caffeine hub and social hang out. The truth is, on this campus, there's no shame in chilling at the library.

What you're up to a the library all depends on the level you frequent. "Q-Level" is the entrance right off the upper quad (thus the "Q"). It's where you'll find all the campus coffee fiends lined up for one of Cafe Q's infamous mochas before class. I myself am a total mocha addict; they're awesome.

The actual library entrance is off the Beach on "M-Level", where you smuggle study snacks into your bag before showing the security guard your JCard to get in. This floor is home to the main info desk, the check-out counter, the reserves desk and general reference. It's a quick study stop between classes or just for chatting on a lounge couch.

From here down, the term "buried in the library" will apply. Basically, the further down you go, the quieter it gets. "A-Level" is open for study groups and tolerates "studious chatter." It's also where you'll go to watch assigned course films at the audio-visual viewing rooms.

Both "B" and "C-Level" are designated as "quiet study levels." They're also where the stacks (college lingo for "bookshelves") begin. "C-Level" is specifically for science resources and has it's own info desk.

By the time you reach "D-Level," you might as well be in a morgue. People here usually sit behind rows of empty coffee cups lined up on their cubicle. However, come finals time, the party moves to "D-Level."

MSE is a great quiet nook to study all the time. However, for those of you who are saving your cameo appearance for finals week, you can access most library resources from your home-sweet dorm room.

Visit the library's electronic catalog at http://catalog.library.jhu.edu. From here, you can download or print required readings from Reserves without even budging from your seat.

Don't hesitate to make yourself at home in the library, though. There are study cubicles on every floor with outlets and free Resnet access for your laptop. At finals time, some students milk the 24-hour schedule for all it's worth, hauling in pillows and plastering their study cubicles with photos to make themselves at home. It's worth touring the library just to see for yourself.

Otherwise, there's nothing to be afraid of at the library. Where else can you study and make your social rounds at the same time? If you don't show, you just never know what gossip you might be missing.