Quiet place to study NYC West Side?

July 15, 2016 7:07 AM

I need a quiet place to work. Sometimes w/ a laptop, but not always. The Main Library is, of course, the gold standard; and SIBL is pretty focussed too. But for reasons of time and access, finding a place on the west side is preferable. Public Libraries , esp. in the summer can be noisy and distracting. I know how I work best. Many colleges over here, but they all require student ids.? Could I join for the summer semester? A Seminary? A Museum? Any suggestions?
posted by ebesan to Education (8 answers total)

Do you need to work on a laptop? If not, sometimes when I just want to read or take a break from work I go to the church up the block from my office. Lots of churches are open during the day and are nice and quiet and empty and no one will kick you out.
posted by greta simone at 7:20 AM on July 15, 2016

Have you tried out the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza? Barnes and Noble?
posted by gudrun at 7:49 AM on July 15, 2016 [1 favorite]

Cooper Union is a US Gov Depository Library and allows access to the general public for those materials. You need a photo id.

I'd look at what other college libraries are in this program.
posted by zippy at 8:06 AM on July 15, 2016

You can look up other Federal Depository Libraries here. They are required to offer free access to the public, even if they're in a private institution.
posted by zippy at 8:13 AM on July 15, 2016

Here are the ones in NYC. Apologies for the wall o text, I'm editing this on my phone

NYU School of Law Library
NYU Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
New York Law Institute
St. John's University - Manhattan Davis Library
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art/Library
New York Public Library Astor Branch/Science, Industry and Business
New York Public Library Lenox Branch/Science, Industry and Business
Columbia University Lehman Library
Yeshiva University Pollack Library
Yeshiva University Chutick Law Library
The City College of New York/CUNY Cohen Library
New York Law School Mendik Library
Fordham University School of Law
posted by zippy at 8:22 AM on July 15, 2016

Response by poster: I am looking them all up, thx.
posted by ebesan at 8:26 AM on July 15, 2016

$75/mo. to work in the Butler Library at Columbia (as a non-alum/staff/student). That seems like your best bet, given your location.

The federal depositories would really not be thrilled about your coming in ostensibly to use their materials and then not doing so. (The free access to the public is for the depository materials, not generally.)
posted by praemunire at 9:15 AM on July 15, 2016 [2 favorites]

I used to go regularly to the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center for a Shut Up and Write! group, and it's a nice, quiet, and cool place to work. There's also a 'Wichcraft, if you want food or drink.
posted by SansPoint at 11:10 AM on July 15, 2016 [1 favorite]