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Alternative Study Locations: Outside the Boundaries of Strozier Library

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter.

The end of the semester is approaching. With finals coming up, spring weekend in the air and, for many of us, graduation on the way, it’s crunch time. Studying has become a priority once again and Strozier is the only club well be partying at all night long. While Strozier offers endless study accommodations, its popularity turns this study zone into a social zoo and hours can be spent searching for a table and waiting for a study room. Her Campus would like to offer you some alternatives to this crowded study hot spot.

To get outside the walls of Strozier and off the grounds of campus, Black Dog Café and All Saints Café are excellent go-to study locations.

Black Dog Café is a coffee house that serves both food and beverages. You can find this local coffee house on the beautiful Lake Ella. Black Dog has all the comforts of your neighborhood coffee house with great customer service, a laid-back quiet atmosphere, the perfect view and free Wi-Fi. The coffee house offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Inside, Black Dog feels like a little eclectic cabin, with the walls ornamented in art. ‘People watching’ is ideal as interesting returning guests range from chest players, to your professors, to fellow students. Outside is patio seating overlooking the lake, other shops, and a local fresh market. Lake Ella makes you feel like you’ve escaped Tallahassee, while in reality, you’re in the heart of this quaint little town.

All Saints Café is our next favorite study location, located near Railroad Square in the art district of Tallahassee. This funky coffee house strikes a hipster feel as the room is adorned with mix-n-match furnishings, art, graffiti, and arcade games. The café offers a large selection of food and beverages, with a full-on vegan menu. A popular and favorite beverage amongst All Saints customers is their delicious Italian Soda in over 29 flavors.  The Wi-Fi and available seating is awesome. All Saints offers several outlets that extend outside to accommodate to all computers users. Not to mention, this snazzy study place can rival the hours of Strozier because it’s open 24 hours! Yes, a full 24 hours! All Saints is available Monday-Sunday from 9am-9am.

For those who can’t make it off campus, Her Campus recommends Dirac Library and the outdoor courtyard in Williams.

If you are a library junkie and need silence to study productively, the often-overlooked Paul A.M. Dirac Science Library is the perfect spot. The Dirac Science Library is located on the west side of campus. Although Dirac is a science-based library that holds the School of Information Technology and Computational Science, it is still open to all students. This library offers students several cubicles for individualized studying that seats about 500 people. Computers, Wi-Fi and study lounges are available as well. If you want to “campus library hop,” you can check out www.lib.fsu.edufor information on other specialized libraries such as: Claude Pepper library, College of Music Allen Music Library, College of Law Research Center, the School of Library and Information Studies Goldstein Library, the College of Medicine Maguire Medical Library and the FAMU/FSU Engineering Reading Room Library.

Studying outside can be a refreshing alternative to stuffy indoor libraries and study lounges, especially when you’re envious of your poolside friends. However, the encroaching noise, lack of available tables, as well as outlets, can pose a problem. On the first floor of the Williams building is a hidden treasure. Williams offers a quiet and shaded outdoor study lounge. The area has several tables and outlets so don’t let this study lounge remain the best-kept secret of English majors. This study spot allows you to enjoy this beautiful Tallahassee springtime weather while remaining productive.  Blocked with four walls, you’re certain to get all sweaty in the heat of the sun!
Her Campus hopes that these locations offer you with a new variety of study spots that can easy your study blues and aide in a less stressful end of the semester.

Viviana Victoria is a sophomore at the Florida State University, class of 2013, double majoring in Retail Merchandising & Product Development and the new English track offered at FSU, editing, writing, and media. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, moving up to Tallahassee was quite a change. During her first year in college, after changing her major three times, she was fortunate enough to discover her passion for writing this early on. Her goal is to write for a major fashion magazine or to be a screenplay writer in the future. She is an active member of the Collegiate Merchandising Association (CMA) at FSU, as well as a contributing writer of College Magazine, an advice publication for college students founded by a graduate student of Maryland. Some of her interests include playing sports, reading, working out, and basically having a good time. Her ultimate life goal is to touch lives and to be remembered as the girl who always made people smile regardless of what was thrown her way.