Love, hate and libraries

I have a history of negative feelings toward libraries. I have typically avoided them because a) the silence is eerie, b) they smell weird, and c) they usually have bad lighting. Recently, though, my feelings have changed.

Since moving to Nashville and beginning graduate school last fall, I’ve explored several study spots around town. I don’t like to feel sequestered by my student-status, so I often study in public — in coffee shops. Many of Nashville’s local cafes offer free wireless Internet and great coffee. In the past few months, I’ve spent time at Fido’s, the Frothy Monkey, Portland Brew and Bongo Java.

But yesterday, I became disillusioned with coffeeshops. Fido’s has removed all public electrical outlets, so unless you have super-laptop, don’t plan to stay longer than an hour and a half. Portland Brew is closed on Sundays and the Frothy Monkey frequently closes unpredictably, which leaves Bongo Java and Starbucks unbearably crowded…and brings me to the subject of libraries. I’ve started venturing into them more often.

The Peabody Library has quiet rooms, lots of windows, tables, comfortable chairs and doesn’t really smell like anything — good or bad. The Iris Cafe is open on the weekdays, but you can bring coffee and drinks into the library anytime. When the weather is nice, there are plenty of places to study outside, and there are outlets everywhere. All of these things make for an unexpectedly Rachel-friendly study spot.

Anyone else have other suggestions for great places to study? Any tips on secret spots I don’t know about yet? In my view, these are the key criteria: good lightning (windows), comfortable seating, electricity, and permission to eat and/or drink. Happy fellow patrons are a bonus.

–Rachel B.