Finding unique study locales has become an art for Colby students. The key is to find a place that has a balance of comfort, efficiency, liveliness and tranquility that suits one’s study style. While some students seek secluded hideaways, others prefer the classic settings that have been used by countless students over the years.

One obvious location that continues to be popular each year is the Miller Library. The hallway on the first floor, commonly referred to as the Street, is a favorite among many students. It is often used as a meeting place for those working on group projects because of its central location on campus.

However, some students say that this popularity can make the Street too crowded and too loud. For these people, there are hidden study spots within Miller. One of these is between the stacks of books on the third floor. Olga Stepanova ’11 said, “[The] third floor is really quiet.  And if you sit in the stacks, you can nap shamelessly between chapters.”

“My favorite place is cubicle 2C-27 on the second floor of Miller,” Kayla Lewkowicz ’14 admitted. “It's close to the window where I can stare out at the leaves, next to the heater so it's nice and warm, and has a comfy chair right next to it for when I need to read. I just happened to sit there during the first week and now it's my spot!”

A floor of Miller even more desolate is the basement, where first-year Omari Matthew prefers to spend his study hours: “The  Library basement [is] quiet, nice, quaint..basically everything is awesome.”

Miller and other libraries on campus, such as the Olin Science Library and the Bixler Art Library, are ideal study locations because they provide convenient resources. Each library is open fairly late—midnight in Olin and Bixler, 1 a.m. in Miller—so students can come and go even at late hours. The large rooms are relatively quiet with ample access to books, computers, strong wireless internet and power outlets for those working on laptop computers. Additionally, the staff members at the libraries are always available to assist students in locating resources.

Students also take advantage of other establishments around campus. Clay Brown ’13 prefers to study in the Pugh Center because “students rarely use the Pugh or even know where it is… I have [fewer] distractions and some of my close friends are in the Pugh to offer their help and comfort at hard academic times during the year.”

This comfort can also present distraction.  Bette Ha ’14 said, “I've also taken a liking to the Pugh Center, but their couches are much too comfy and I always feel like falling asleep.”

When the libraries become overcrowded, many students take refuge in the various academic buildings. Empty classrooms in Mudd, Keyes and Runnals are great for both individual and group work. Isadora Alteon ’13 uses one of the East Asian Studies rooms on the fourth floor of Lovejoy because it is a “great place in the mornings when the sun is shining and very quiet at night.” Kristin Robinson ’14 likes to study on the third floor of the Diamond Building.  “It’s so quiet and it’s pretty much open all night,” she said.

While it may be too much of a walk for some students, Charlie Frank ’13 said that his favorite study spot on the Hill was the Schair-Swenson-Watson Alumni Center, claming it is “The quiestest place to study is the Alumni Library in the Alumni Center.”

The common rooms and lounges within the dorms are also popular due to their convenience. They allow the students to be away from their rooms and to meet others, while still being within reach of any of their belongings or supplies that they may need. Similarly, a number of students living in Foss  and Woodman use the Foss dining hall for late-night study sessions.

With only 35 days left until exams begin, students are sure to not only continue using these secret spots but to invent new ones as well.