At Cornell, the libraries hold more than 7 million books, but they aren't just for silent study. The Libe Café in Olin Library offers coffee and snacks, as well as comfy chairs and plenty of outlets for laptops. A similar space currently under renovation serves patrons of Mann Library, whose collections include materials on beekeeping, floral arrangement, and birds of New York State.

The university's nineteen libraries also offer videotapes, audiocassettes, sheet music, and rare and historical documents. Most of the libraries are organized topically, but a single electronic card catalog makes the entire collection available to all students and faculty. An additional online resource makes it possible for students to read journal articles and search for relevant news accounts without ever leaving their rooms.