Congenial study spots in and/or around Baltimore, MD?

March 14, 2007 3:44 PM

I need to find a good spot to study. I like libraries, particularly of the academic sort. What's the most congenial library in the Baltimore, MD area?

What I mean by congenial, in this case, is large, uncrowded, and quiet. The main Hopkins research library would be perfect if students weren't perennially shoehorned into every carrel, loudly and agitatedly scribbling away as they flip through organic chemistry texts highlighted in six colors. What say ye, Baltimoreans?

posted by killdevil to education (5 comments total)

tried the enoch pratt? Although the main areas can be quite busy, cosy, quit corners can be found. Oh, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore's Medical Library (a.k.a. Health Sciences Human Services Library a.k.a. hshsl) is open to the public, but is an academic library with several quiet floors. They have a law library too, but I know less about the insides of that one.
posted by dipolemoment at 4:27 PM on March 14, 2007

It's been years since I've been there but I absolutely loved the Peabody Conservatory. It was beautiful and open to the public. I don't remember if it was a good place to study, but if you go by you must at least look at the door hardware. Seriously. Gorgeous. It was near downtown - but - alas I am not a local so hopefully one will correct me with the proper location.
posted by dog food sugar at 5:03 PM on March 14, 2007

If you have a car, the Julia Rogers Library at Goucher is pretty chill, if small.
posted by youcancallmeal at 7:13 PM on March 14, 2007

Absolutely check out the main branch of Enoch Pratt ( 400 Cathedral Street at Franklin) and go to the Maryland Room on the 2nd floor. Nice atmosphere.

The Peabody Library is gorgeous, but I'm not sure of their public policies. (oh, that would be 21 E Mount Vernon Place, roughly the 600 block of N. Charles.)

Perhaps find out if the Maryland Historical Society has space to study and chill...

I would imagine MICA (Maryland Institute College of Arts) has some wonderful study spots...
posted by verytres at 9:06 PM on March 14, 2007

Agreeing, I always found University of Maryland, Baltimore's Medical Library (a.k.a. Health Sciences Human Services Library a.k.a. hshsl) to be quiet and calming - the new law library less so, but prettier. They are within a couple of blocks of each other, so maybe try both.
posted by KAS at 6:38 AM on March 15, 2007