Toronto is lucky, I know I say this a lot, but we really do live in one of the best cities in the world. And while this thought may not dawn on you while you’re waiting in the cold for a bus that should have arrived 20 minutes ago, it’s true- especially when you take a look around at all the different places you can study on or off campus. Lately, I’ve take to studying in different coffee shops and cafes- things that U of T has more than its fair of. And I don’t mean just your typical Starbucks or Second Cup, there are tons of independent cafes dotted around the city that are just waiting for your business. And once you’ve found the right one to work in, it can be one of the best places to study. But that doesn’t mean that you can just saunter in and plop yourself down, there is a certain amount of etiquette involved. Here are my tips/rules for coffee shop using collegiettes™!
Buy a drink
You’re using their wireless, enjoying their heat, and using their space. It’s just plain rude not to buy a drink. It doesn’t matter if you buy a tall or the largest size they have. Buy something. The point is that while you may see it as just another study spot, it’s not. It’s still a business and to function businesses need to make a profit so make sure you don’t just sit there.
Use an appropriately sized table.
If you’re studying by yourself, don’t take up a table that is meant for four people. Even if the store may only have a few other patrons, you never know when that’s going to change. I know it’s tempting to spread your books out over the biggest table available, but it’s only polite to leave those tables open for larger parties that may come in.
Chill with the phone.
You’re in the middle of reading a case for your law class, when all of a sudden you’re distracted by someone yelling at the top of their lungs to whoever is on the other end of their phone call. It’s a public space, so you can hardly step in to tell them to pipe down. But you can make sure you’re never that girl. Most coffee shops are meant to be quiet-ish places and that’s why we go there to study! So when your phone rings, make sure to speak quietly or take the call outside if you must.
Headphones are your friend.
The same rules apply in the library as they do in a coffee shop. If you’re working on your laptop and listening to music or watching a video at the same time, use headphones. You might think that everyone else in the store will appreciate your music taste, but they don’t. It doesn’t matter how good your music taste is, people are at coffee shops to work and other people just don’t want to hear your music. Even if you’re listening to your iPod, turn down the volume. No one needs to hear how “sick your beats are”. Trust me.
If you’re there with a group…
If you’re studying with a group, a coffee shop is one of the better places to meet up since you can still talk and go over notes. Just make sure you’re not too loud and a distraction to other customers.
Clean up.
Just because a coffee shop is technically operating in the service industry, does not mean that they should be expected to pick up after a huge mess. So throw out or recycle your coffee cup, recycle your paper, and throw out all the napkins you took. It makes things easier for both the coffee shop staff and anyone that may want to use your table right after you.
Know when the right time to leave is.
I tend to measure the number of hours I can stay by how many drinks I buy. Buying one drink at 10 in the morning does not give you the right to stay at the table until closing. If you buy a new drink every few hours, sure you may have a better claim to do so. But even then it’s important to know when the right time to leave is. Other people want to use your table too.
Coffee shops are a lot like libraries, especially the ones on or around campus. Moreover, they are a business. So keep this in mind next time you study in a coffee shop.
What are your rules for studying in coffee shops? Let us know in the comments!