Library FAQs

Working in the library, I get many questions on the rules and general knowledge of the library. Why is it so loud in the library? You aren’t allowed to eat in there are you? Do they have any books that I could check out to read just for fun? These are some questions I get asked frequently. So why not write them all down and answer them for the masses?
In regards to the first—and most frequently discussed—question, it may be your location. The library has four floors, and there is an unspoken rule that the farther up you go the quieter you should be. So if you would like some silence, third floor is the place for you. If you have a project to work on with others try the basement, or a study room on second floor. As far as eating in the library goes, go for it. People have gone as far as to order a pizza, and have it delivered to the library. If you ever need to just spend the day in the library and crack out some hard core studying, don’t be shy bring as much or as little food and beverage as you desire.
For the last question there are indeed many different books that you can check out just for fun. We have the Whipple section right on the main floor, which is full of books that are popular now. It’s always worth a look. We also have young adult, and children book sections in the basement. You can find Harry Potter, Divergent, or even Dr. Seuss. Brittany B.

Productivity

The study rooms are really nice to be able to work, by yourself or with a group, without any distractions. It's also helpful because if you need a book, you're already in the library! And, my personal favorite, you don't feel like people are staring at you and silently judging you. That's always a plus. So use the study rooms! Be productive! Yay, productivity!~~~~Angela

Super Study Days

Whenever my friends and I have a big project to work on, we'll commandeer a study room all day for Super Study Days. It helps us focus to be in the library and away from any noise or other distractions. We get a lot accomplished since we have such easy access to books, computers, and (thank goodness) the printer. The library sometimes also provides a nice curfew; since they kick us out at 1 AM, we know it's time to go to sleep. ~Angela

Take a break from finals

Most people think the library is just a place to go to study and write papers.  However, the library has a lot more to offer.  My new favorite place in the library is the hidden rooms on 2^nd floor with the comfy chairs and pictures.  Whenever I find myself at the library unable to study, I usually go to the one of these rooms to take a break.  I also use them when I just don’t have ambition to sit at a desk and focus intently on my homework.  I think these rooms offer a unique twist the library.  People usually imagine the cold desks, tiny lamps, and hard chairs.  This room, on the other hand, has oversize chairs and the walls are decorated with paintings that are a good thing to look at, especially to avoid that homework.

As finals come around, it is good to know that the library doesn’t have to be just a place to concentrate and study hard.  Long hours in the library during finals lead us all to hate the library, but it’s really just finals that we hate.  Take a break, visit the rooms and look at the paintings, sit in the chairs and take a break.  You deserve it after all.  Molly-Reference student

Time for Finals

The library is one of the best places to go study if you need to get out of your dorm room for a while. There are so many nooks and crannies here that you can curl yourself into and just get work done without any distractions. Every floor has some sort of study area, whether it's an actual enclosed room or just a bunch of comfy couches up in the Over-Sized Reading Room.

For me, I really love working either up on the second floor in one of the study rooms, if I can get one, or down on the first floor in the reference area. The study rooms are great if you're working with a couple other people and you need to chat about what you're working on or if you can't study in open spaces. Be careful, though, if you're working in there with friends; work might not actually get done if you spend too long chatting!

I also like working in the reference area. It's secluded enough that if you need to be on your own there are spaces for it, but if you want to work near a friend, there's place for that too. The good thing about working on the first floor is that there aren't any places where you can shut the door, so you can actually get work done instead of chatting (which is something I've been guilty of in the past.) Of course, the library isn't the only place on campus you can study, but if you need to work in almost absolute silence or absolute silence, the library is a wonderful place to come to work.

The great thing about it is there are a lot of places to try and work. If you're not sure what works for you, try out study areas on all four floors (people seem to forget about third floor a lot for some unknown reason) and figure out what works for you. Maybe you need walls around you or light or something. You'll probably find a perfect place somewhere in the library.~Anita, Reference student

Upper Reading Room

 When I was a first year, it was difficult to get into the swing of appropriate study methods. In high school I always studied at home at the dining table, never in a library. Depending on what time of the day you are studying, Coe's library can be a very distracting place. It took probably the whole first semester to learn how to use the library to my advantage. It was a long semester of trial and error; studying at a table with other people, listening to music while studying, facing a window while studying, etc. None of those methods worked for me. I found that the best way for me to use the library is the second floor reading room. In those cubbies, I am removed from distraction and most of the time it is silent. There are plug ins in each cubbie so I am able to charge my laptop while working. I also believe it is the best spot to pick up WiFi in the library! ~Kallie

Study, Study, Study!

Stewart Memorial Library offers many wonderful study areas to choose from.  If you need complete quietness, then the third floor would be best for you.  However, if you are like me and need background noise in order to function then choose the first floor.  Often, I can be found with my head in my book at a round table towards the back!  I also enjoy studying in the study rooms that the library offers on 2nd floor and in the basement. ~Petreece