An ode to the best study spot on campus: The first floor of the O’Neill library

Quieter than the second floor of Lower. Less serious than Bapst. More social than the stacks on the third floor.

There’s only one study spot on campus that’s a perfect mix of all the others, and that’s the academic oasis that is O’Neill’s first floor.

My personal favorite study spot on campus is the ideal place to cram for an exam, power your way through a paper, or watch Orange is the New Black while avoiding doing the first two.

So what makes the first floor of the famed Tip O’Neill library so great?

Have you ever been knee-deep in studying and felt a craving for a Hillside panini? Simply walk a few hundred feet, go down the Maloney elevator and boom! You’re there.

The bridge between O’Neill’s first floor and Maloney also provides a nice spot to procrastinate by calling your mom take a quick phone call.

You’ll never have to traverse a laptop charger obstacle course just to get to the printer – they’re in super close proximity.

Not even the people unaware about the #1 rule of libraries (ones who casually chat at full volume while printing) can take away from this first floor perk.

But, if you’re really in need of a noise-free study space, there’s also a more secluded room next to the staircase that also usually has some student artwork on display, if you need some creative inspiration while working.

You know that time of year when you’re so stressed out by final exams and papers that you can hardly enjoy a Christmas cookie? Doing your work on the first floor of O’Neill means you have a front-row seat to snowfalls, something that can make the monotony of study days a little better (or worse, depending on how you look at it).

You can also enjoy a snack, coffee, soda, or bottle of water from one of the various vending machines that you don’t even have to leave the floor to get to.

If you’re a person who needs to be comfortable while studying, look no further than the first floor of O’Neill. There are booths galore where you can comfortably recline, and cute circles of comfy chairs with a makeshift wood ottoman in the middle.

You’re allowed to kick your feet up on these, right?

So, O’Neill first floor, for all these reasons and more, thank you.

During many a long night of studying, I found solace at your long tables with outlets located conveniently in the center.

May you never be too crowded to find a seat, may your vending machines be ever full, and may you never be changed as part of the Ten Year Plan.

I look forward to experiencing your glory for 15 days straight following Thanksgiving.

My happy place