CalTech - sightseeing (Pasadena, Berkeley, San Marino: city hall, high school, universities)

[robertpasa]

I've visited CalTech in Pasadena. I wasn't sure what to look at, just buildings and a gift store.

Is there a big cafeteria that is open to the public? If so, what is it? I did see a smaller cafe thing.

What is the biggest library on the campus? Is it open to the public?
Moffitt Library in Berkeley used to be open to the public. They restricted it around 1987 because too many students from other schools used it.

[HyperionGap]

I never attended Caltech as a student, but I did go to high school across the street so I have been around the campus quite a bit. It's definitely a very cool place and its always interesting to go to the labs where some amazing discoveries were made.


Food - Chandler Dining Hall
Library - Millikan Library
Both of these are open to the public.


If you're going to check out the campus again I would recommend you go see the Athenaeum and all the Gardens/Ponds outside the Library.

Here's a good map
Campus Map | Caltech

[ccm123]

Lots of areas "around" Cal Tech that may appeal to you: Pasadena Old Town, Huntington Library (which is in San Marino), The Rose Bowl, City Hall Pasadena (nice area near Old Town).

[Those Who Squirm]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

I've visited CalTech in Pasadena. I wasn't sure what to look at, just buildings and a gift store.

Is there a big cafeteria that is open to the public? If so, what is it? I did see a smaller cafe thing.

Most campuses I've ever seen have some kind of cafe or restaurant where anyone can go. Usually if they take money they'll take it from anyone.

(BTW it's Moffatt, I think.)
What is the biggest library on the campus? Is it open to the public?
Moffitt Library in Berkeley used to be open to the public. They restricted it around 1987 because too many students from other schools used it.

I didn't know it was that long ago that they barred the public. Especially for state supported--albeit now just barely--universities, I think the idea of completely excluding the public would have once been anathema. When I was in library school from 1982 to '84 an "academic" library was understood to be different from a truly "private" library, as in one belonging to a particular firm or private club. Of course it was also understood that the public couldn't just wander in and borrow books, at least not before they paid twenty or thirty bucks for a year's membership in the Friends Of The Library, but they were allowed to go inside and have some access to the collection.

A librarian with whom I'm acquainted on another message board had been attending some sort of regional librarians' gathering at a well known private college. Somewhere in the proceedings somebody suggested a tour of the main library--but they couldn't do it because a campus ID was required to get in!