Insider McGill Study Spaces

For when this doesn’t look inviting.

After spending the past few weeks gaily dashing from rehearsal to movie night to coffee with friends, I’ve finally hit the point where I can no longer ignore the pile of homework beckoning to me from my desk. It’s starting to loom, menacingly! Instead of settling myself down to work my way through it piece-by-piece, I take chunks of it out into the world, in a scholarly visit to my favourite McGill study spaces. Tackling the whole pile at once is a little scary; small parts, however, approached in the comforting camaraderie of fellow procrastinators, are easily conquered.

I have two essays, a 30-minute presentation, and a German speech to write. Here’s where I’ll be hiding out for the next couple days:

5. Burnside Basement

I kid you not; this place is great. You may know Burnside Hall as the bunker-like building in the Southeast area of campus; you may know the basement as a dimly lit dungeon. All this means is that barely anyone studies there: lots of seats available! The dim lights means your laptop screen will shine the brighter; if you forget to bring your charger on your solo study date, your battery can last longer as you pound out the final paragraph of your 15-page term paper. There’s a small snack-sized cafeteria, in case you need noms or caffeine.

Pros: Space, snacks.

Cons: Lack of sunlight.

4. Birks Reading Room

The Birks Religious Studies building is gorgeous; its library is no exception. You sit at long wooden tables in straight-back chairs, and complete silence is required. This is great for concentration, but if you transgress against the rule of silence in any way, prepare yourself for some seriously dirty looks from the librarian. Transgressions include moving chairs (don’t move them very far–this is not allowed) and coughing. You also must take your shoes off and leave them outside the door; Birks is very preoccupied with the state of their floors. Haven’t found any snacks in the building, besides the vending machines in the basement.

Pros: Beautiful space. Blissful silence.

Cons: Stressful silence. Stressful librarian presence.

3. Islamic Studies Library in Morrice Hall

Same Birks experience, only less stinkeye from the librarians. Silence is expected, so it’s a wonderful atmosphere for concentration. Beautiful building, nice little nooks all over the place. No snacks.

Pros: Gorgeous, and not stressful.

Cons: No snacks.

2. Blackader-Lauterman Library (Art History Library in Redpath)

This is the secret haven of the art history books; unless you have been shown the path, good luck finding the way to it. It’s a lovely space with lots of comfy seating, and hardly anyone knows about it, so it’s not usually too busy. The Redpath cafeteria is downstairs, but you can’t bring noms into the library part. I get nervous leaving my stuff alone, so I always pack everything up when I go for snack breaks.

The entrance is located in the hallway in Redpath on the way to McLennan; big industrial door lead to a stairwell; up a flight or two of stairs there is a sign that tells you to turn.

Pros: Quiet, beautiful.

Cons: Hard-to-find. No snacks.

1. McLennan Library’s Rare Books Library

You’re not allowed in unless you’re actually looking at a rare book. But if you’re lucky enough to do that for a class, then you’re in for a treat. Everything is glossy wood, it’s practically empty, and there’s beautiful books everywhere in sight. A librarian is sitting right in the middle, watching your every move: this can be disconcerting. You’re not allowed noms at all. This place is definitely a treat, not a habitual study space.

Pros: Soooooooooo pretty. Lots of space. Unlikely to be distracted.

Cons: Hard to get into. No snacks. Stressful librarian presence.