With finals week quickly approaching, students are searching for the perfect place to study in a quiet environment. The library is one of the most popular choices for its large space, with plenty of room for students to quietly work. They also have access to the extensive collection that Penfield Library has to offer. What other choices do students have when looking for a nice quiet place to study?
The 24-hour room in the library is a resource that provides computers and work space for students. It usually fills up quickly, especially once the library closes at 11 p.m., and can sometimes not provide the quiet setting that most students seek.
“If it’s too loud and crazy I find a quiet spot in Campus Center,” said Kim Miranda, a biology major. The Campus Center has plenty of open space for students to work on their schoolwork as well as quiet places. The Atrium, where Freshens is located, is one such quiet location within the Campus Center. There are many places for students to sit, as well as tables at which students can work. It is a good location to sit and buckle down to do final semester work.
“I go to the library for at least an hour every night to study,” said Ryan Longo, an accounting major. Longo enjoys utilizing the library as a resource.
“I go to the 3rd floor study rooms. I use my individual study room that I reserved at the beginning of the semester too,” Longo said. Penfield Library offers the opportunity for students to reserve individual rooms. Students receive their own key so that they can come and go as they please.
“I like to go to the library when I can, it’s quiet there,” said Ross Insalaco.
“We have individual and group spaces, quiet spaces, the 3rd floor is quiet, and we keep the reference room quiet for students preparing for finals,” said Barbara Shaffer, the Interim Library Director at Penfield Library. The individual student rooms are, “carrels, most students get them for the semester, others get them for a day,” Shaffer said. Keys for the carrels are located at the Periodicals Media Desk, located on the second floor straight through the doors at the top of the stairs.
“They don’t all have outlets, so it’d be best if students charged up their laptops before they come to use them,” she added.
The library will also remain open until midnight Sunday through Thursday starting next week. On Saturday they will begin opening earlier on the weekends. For those who enjoy working at Lake Effect Café, extended hours will begin next week and are posted in the building. More information on extended hours can be found at oswego.edu/library. The library will also provide earplugs while supplies last at the reference desk.
It seems that the only problem students have with the library is that it fills up quickly.
“I like to study at my desk in my room,” said Branden Jones, a public justice major.
“I study with my friends that are in my classes,” said Brad Mayville, also a public justice major. He continued to discuss how the lounges in his building, Oneida Hall, were also useful.
Staying in the dorms is great if you are the type of person that can handle the distractions of neighbors and friends who may not be studying. On April 29, the 24-hour quiet hours go into effect and last until the last test is given on campus.
“People need to buckle down to study,” said John Lauro, a resident assistant in Oneida Hall. “Quiet atmosphere, no Xbox sounds spilling into the hall.” Students will be written up if they are blasting music like any other day in the dorms. This provides students in the residence halls with the opportunity to study and get their last bits of work done.
“I go to review sessions, get a proper amount of sleep and eat a good breakfast,” Phil Jenkins said. Studies suggest students sleep at least eight hours a night, and eat several small meals rather than three large ones.
