Powell Library is the main college undergraduate library on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). It was constructed from 1926 to 1929 and was one of the original four buildings that comprised the UCLA campus in the early period of the university's life. Its Romanesque Revival architecture design, its historic value and its popularity with students to study makes it one of the defining images of UCLA.
Like the building facing it across the quad, Royce Hall, the building's exterior is modeled after Milan's Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio.blank">http://www.today.ucla.edu/1998/archive980316.html
It is named for _Lawrence Clark Powell, the University Librarian at UCLA from 1944 to 1961 and Dean of the Graduate School of Library Service from 1960 to 1966. It is part of the extensive UCLA Library system.
Architectural history of the Powell Library Building: Entrance of the library is adorned with several mosaics, one of which depicts two men holding a book bearing the phrase, from Cicero's Pro Archia Poeta, "Haec studia adulescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant." This loosely translates to "Studying in youth sustains delight into old age" an appropriate dictum for is vast collection for undergraduate students. http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/powell/powlibbld.pdf
Renaissance Printers' Marks on the ceiling: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/powell/pmarks/index.htm
