My Favorite Study Spots at Barnard and NYC
One of my favorite aspects of going to Barnard is that we have access to so many resources on our campus, at Columbia, and in New York as a whole. This means that if we wanted to, we could study somewhere new every day and still have more places to explore by the end of the semester. As someone who loves to change up where I study fairly often, I decided I would put together a list of my favorite study spots both on and off campus that range from relaxed cafes to more academic settings. If you come to Barnard, definitely visit some of these spots and I highly encourage you to continue exploring whenever possible!
Liz’s Place
Aside from being my go-to for on campus chai lattes and pastries, Liz’s place is a great place to meet up with friends for group projects or to work on some readings. The lighting is always beautiful and it provides a space for concentration while also allowing you to relax and get work done at your own pace. The staff there is also incredibly friendly and always has great background music playing. You can find Liz’s place on the first floor of the Diana Center on Barnard’s campus.
Columbia School of Social Work Library
The library in the school of social work is a great place to go if you want to leave the Barnard bubble for a little bit while also being in an academic space. They have 4 person tables where you can work alone or with friends and the big windows allow for natural light that I personally love to have when I’m studying. You can find the library on 121st and Amsterdam on the second floor of the school of social work building.
Variety Coffee Roasters
My goal for this year was to try to explore New York as much as possible, so of course I had to find a chic coffee shop where I could go to hang out or get work done if necessary. As you can probably tell by now, I am a huge fan of open study spaces with lots of light so this spot is perfect to be productive but also get to bask in the city’s glory. You can find Variety Coffee Roasters on the Upper East Side on the corner of Lexington Ave. and E 85th St.
Butler Library
If you have been on campus, you have definitely either seen the outside of Butler or heard people talking about it. This is probably the most popular library on campus and whenever midterms or finals are approaching it will be packed on every single floor. This is definitely the go-to place for when you need a highly academic place to be very productive. You can find Butler Library on Columbia’s campus on the right side of college walk if you’re walking from Barnard.
Milstein Center (BCRW)
Lastly, I was lucky enough to be here for the opening of the Milstein Center which has provided us with a beautiful location to be able to study. I love that the new library has such a range of study spots from small group study rooms to quiet floors and more lounge type areas to work with friends. The photo above was taken from one of the rooms on the floor where the Barnard Center for Research on Women now resides, which is one of my favorite spots to do group study sessions especially if the sun is setting!
I hope you enjoyed and that you also find your own favorite spots to study at both on and off our campus.