This is part one of a two part study spot series. Catch part two covering on-campus options on 11/20.

Happy finals season! We are in the homestretch of the fall semester, which means BC Law students find themselves with their heads in their books and spending far more time inside. As we are all preparing for finals, I would like to offer some alternative study spots in the Newton-Boston area that are NOT the BC Law Library we are all very (too) familiar with. Happy studying, you’re almost there!

Libraries!

Bapst Library

• Where: BC Undergraduate Campus, Newton
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Thurs: 8am – 12am
  • Fri: 8am – 5pm
  • Sat: 9:30am – 5pm
  • Sun: 11am – 12am
• Ambiance: Stained glass windows, Harry Potter core
• Noise level: Pin Drop 🎯 / Library Whisper 📚
• T-accessible?: Accessible by Green Line and BC Shuttle!

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Boston Public Library 

• Where: Copley Square, Boston 
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Thurs: 9am – 8pm
  • Fri-Sat: 9am – 5pm
  • Sun: 11am – 5pm
• Ambiance: More Harry Potter core meets minimalist Scandinavian cafe
  • The BPL has a historic wing coupled with a modern wing
• Noise level: Library Whisper 📚/ Gentle Gossip 🤫
• T-accessible?: Right next to the Copley stop

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Cambridge Public Library 

• Where: Cambridge, MA
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Tues: 9am – 9pm 
  • Fri-Sat: 9am – 5pm
  • Sun: 9am – 5pm
• Ambiance: Modern academia meets high-end coffee shop 
• Noise level: Library Whisper 📚/ Gentle Gossip 🤫
• T-accessible?: No

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Cafes!

Starbucks in Arsenal Yards

• Where: Watertown, MA
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Thurs: 5:30am – 8:30pm
  • Fri-Sat: 5:30am – 9:30pm
  • Sun: 6am – 8:30pm
• Ambiance: Classic Starbucks design but with lots of windows and natural light
• Noise level: Cafe chatter ☕
• T-accessible?: No
  • There are some bus routes that can get you here!

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Café Lava and Bento

• Where: Brighton, MA
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Sun: 8am – 7pm 
• Ambiance: Cozy coffee shop meets ramen restaurant, warm lighting, quirky decor
• Noise level: Gentle Gossip 🤫
• T-accessible?: No
  • There are some bus routes that can get you here!

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Render Coffee

• Free 2-hour parking available on most of the streets around the cafe
• Where: South End, Boston 
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Fri: 7am – 4pm
  • Sat-Sun: 8am – 4pm
• Ambiance: Unique atrium-style design within a coffee shop, the perfect place to write your next book or create the world’s greatest outline
• Noise level: Gentle Gossip 🤫 / Cafe chatter ☕
• T-accessible?: 15-minute walk from Hynes Convention Center stop

Blue Bottle Cafe

• Where: Chestnut Hill, MA
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Sun: 7am – 7pm
• Ambiance: Modern chic aesthetic for maximum productivity
• Noise level: Gentle Gossip 🤫 / Cafe chatter ☕
• T-accessible?: 10-minute walk from Chestnut Hill Green Line stop

Pavement Coffeehouse

• Where: Brighton, MA
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Sun: 7am – 4pm
• Ambiance: Vibrant rustic design with open layout and lots of windows
• Noise level: Gentle Gossip 🤫 / Cafe chatter ☕
• T-accessible?: No

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Miscellaneous!

Boston Athenaeum

• Where: Beacon Hill, Boston
• Hours open: Check out the schedule here!
  • Mon-Thurs: 9am – 8 pm 
  • Fri-Sat: 9am – 5 pm
• Ambiance: Oxford-inspired personal library (but with more natural light)
• Noise level: Library Whisper 📚/ Gentle Gossip 🤫
• T-accessible?: Close to Park Street and Downtown Crossing stops

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Haley Cole is a second-year student at BC Law. Contact her at colehc@bc.edu.