Escape From Butler

Grab your books and hit the streets, because Butler Library is about to explode and you don't want to be around for the aftermath. From freaked-out first-years trying to stuff that last bit of Kant into their brains to Ph.D. candidates desperately searching for a hidden motherload of research materials, our beloved monument to academia has turned into something resembling a psychiatric ward.

Indeed, finals season can bring out the worst in people, especially when they're packed into brightly lit places with 500 pages of writing due in the next 24 hours. So where can a sane student go for the next couple of On Campus:

If you're looking to stay close, you can't beat many of the grad school libraries scattered around campus for their secluded spaces and professional atmosphere. Avery Library, which houses the Art History, Architecture and Fine Arts collections, is good for its large, deathly quiet rooms and classical architecture. Rivaling Avery in the looks department is the East Asian Library on the ground floor of Kent Hall, which cuts down on distraction for those not fluent in ancient Tibetan and has thick shelves of texts to block out all surrounding noise. Lehman Library, housed in the bottom floor of the SIPA building over on Amsterdam Ave., is barely discovered by the undergrad population and features hidden cubicles behind a line of stacks in the back, which makes it easy to disappear under a pile of papers. And while it may seem like a hike to get up to Union Theological Seminary's Burke Library at 122nd St. and Broadway, the walk is worth it. Though small, Burke is never crowded, extremely well kept, and most importantly ... quiet. Of course, there are some times when you just need to multi-task, and the Uris Library is the perfect place to talk on your cell phone or meet with study groups and still get stuff done.

But, if you insist that Butler is the only home for you during these troubled times, it's best to avoid the massive first floor reading rooms and instead head up to the third floor card catalogue room. With cozy nooks and crannies (OK, maybe not so much with the cranny part) scattered throughout two floors, you can stay hidden from the massively distracting social scene that can be a Butler reading room. Also, if you don't mind depressing metal shelves and mysterious footsteps in your working environment, an escape to the much-beloved stacks can be the answer. Without wireless or all of the excess noise of chattering study groups and clicking keys, it can be a great place to zone out and get everything done... before you go insane from the atmosphere.

Of course, libraries aren't the only places where you can get stuff done. The Lerner Piano Lounge is hardly ever crowded, has deep, comfortable leather chairs, and provides good background noise for those of us who can't study in stern silence. Another prime space in that architectural gem of a building is in the cluster of chairs on the west end of the fourth floor. It's so high up that few people venture up there, and the chairs are uber-comfortable... perfect for catching up with a few power naps in between pages. For a better computer lab, skip the often temperamental Butler lab and try the Gussman engineering lab on the second floor of Mudd. With private tables and more soothing lighting, the Gussman Lab offers a more isolated space-plus, if any technical problems arise, you're more likely to have a helpful comp sci major sitting next to you. Also, across the hall from the library in Casa Hispanica's 116th Street row house, there's a quiet lounge with a soft couch and barely any visitors that is just begging to be discovered. And when in doubt, any of the numerous Skylounges across campus can be handy places to go... but insuring your privacy there is almost always an issue.

Off Campus (nearby):

Sure it's a standard, but the Hungarian Pastry Shop, located by the Cathedral of St. John the Divine between 111th and 112th Streets, remains a favorite for a reason. There's a feeling of community because you tend to see the same people time after time, and though the staff can be rude and the lighting weak, the chocolate is amazing and they will never give you dirty looks for staying too long. Still, if Hungarian is not for you, Max Cafe up on Amsterdam and 122nd offers a nice alternative. Though the annoying pop music may be too much for some, the large windows looking out on a schoolyard are much better than manufactured light in most other shops. For paper-writing, Saurin Parke Cafe at 110th and Central Park West is your best bet. With free wireless, good coffee and hot coco, a fine panini selection and a chilled-out vibe, Saurin Parke is a lesser-known work destination. Also undiscovered is the recently-opened Society Coffee at 114th and Fredrick Douglas Blvd, which is open late and has wireless, big tables, coffee, food and an extremely friendly staff. Though they're still the new kids in the neighborhood, Society Coffee is set to become the next Morningside hotspot.

Off-Off Campus:

An overwhelming favorite among Spectator staffers is Doma down on Perry St. at 7th Ave, where just a quick ride on the 1 train to the 14th St. stop can take you worlds away from the stresses of Columbia. Though it fills up early, Doma is a student's paradise, allowing you to plug in a laptop and stay until the end of time, and though it is technically located in the West Village, pretentious patrons are at a minimum.

Other downtown spots that ensure you won't run into anyone from your CC class include Yaffa Cafe on St. Marks, which also offers free internet after 10 and allows laptops to be plugged in overhead. City Bakery on 18th St. between 5th and 6th Aves, benefits from great lighting and hot chocolate, and is not as big of a tourist destination during weekdays. Also, thanks to its location, some stress-relieving shopping is never too far off.

Moving uptown, the reading room at the New York Public Library's main branch on 42nd St. is renowned as one of the City's great study places; in addition to being an architectural masterpiece, there is free internet and a never-ending research facility at your fingertips. Museum environments can also be great inspirations for writing a masterpiece paper. At both the MoMA Cafe and the Met, you can not only get in for free with your student ID but you can sit in the company of genius as you work. Be warned though, the standard cafeteria food at MoMA can cost you more than you're willing, while the Met keeps you stocked with free coffee refills.

Of course, there are always some standbys that you can find throughout the city to fulfill your study needs: any Barnes and Noble can be a good place to plop down in a semi-quiet environment, for a little while at least, and those ubiquitous Starbucks are good for a coffee-fix as anywhere (though really, Oren's fresh-brewed goods are much preferred.) This time of year is stressful enough in Morningside Heights, so at the very least find somewhere where you can be comfortable buckling down and hiding out for a couple of hours-or days, or weeks.

-Contributions and suggestions for places mentioned in this article came from much of the Spectator Staff