We know our reading room is special and our researchers know it is an inspiring place to make connections and think deep thoughts. Visitors stop by with tours or by themselves to gaze out the wonderful windows. And earlier this week we ended up on a list of “Incredible Reading Rooms Around the World.”

The Douglas Strain Reading Room in the Special Collections & Archives Research Center houses the History of Science book collection. The floor is made of giant timber bamboo from Central Northern China, the furniture is white maple, and ginormous windows let in so much light we tend to forget when it’s winter in Oregon. Okay, this is a bit of an exaggeration…

Nestled in a corner of the Strain Reading Room is a room with items from Linus Pauling’s office at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine — including his desk and chalkboard. Hanging on the walls are other items such as a panoramic image of Pauling’s Caltech office, a portrait of Ava Helen Pauling, and a special keepsake from the United States Postal Service marking the release of the Pauling postage stamp in March 2008.

Stop by and take a look — you’ll agree that we have an incredible reading room!