Any study spaces near Somerville MA open late at night?

September 30, 2011 2:14 PM

Are there any public libraries or study spaces in or near Somerville MA that stay open pretty late at night?

I live near Porter Square in Somerville MA and I cannot find any nearby libraries (open to the public) that stay open late at night...as in 10 pm or so. Somerville Public Library Central branch is a short walk for me, but they close at 8pm M-TH and 6pm on F. Weekend hours are short.

Or, are there any quiet public spaces I could study in for hours at a time? It would be a plus if they have WiFi.

I have Somerville permit parking so I could drive if needed but I prefer being able to walk.

posted by kmavap to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

As of 2009, you didn't need an ID to get into Tisch library at Tufts until after 1 am (they close at 9 on Fridays and Saturdays, though). If they've changed that, the campus center (which has plenty of tables) is open until 1 every night.
posted by oinopaponton at 2:25 PM on September 30, 2011

I came to say Tisch. Tisch has (or had, at least, in 2004) a 24 hr study space, but that might be students only? Worth a check though.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:35 PM on September 30, 2011

The main Cambridge Public Library isn't too far and it's got wifi and is open til 9 M-Th. Tufts libraries are open way late but I don't know if they're available to non-students and pretty sure the wifi isn't. The Lesley University Library is right near there and I'm pretty sure you don't need a student ID though you might want to check.
posted by jessamyn at 2:36 PM on September 30, 2011

There are always people studying in the second floor cafe at the Harvard COOP, open until 10pm. 1369 Coffee House in Central Sq. (so T-able) is also open until 10, and until 11 on Friday and Saturday.
posted by Dixon Ticonderoga at 3:21 PM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah, Tisch has a late-night study room that is open until 6 am (it's to the right of the front door, and they don't usually check ID), and the rest of the library is open until 1 and never checks ID. Ginn (also Tufts - Fletcher grad school) is also open until 1, and definitely doesn't check ID. No guest wireless at any of the above afaik, but I think you can get guest internet access through the desktops maybe...? Don't tell anybody else about Ginn, though; when the library is crowded with undergrads (especially during exams) that makes us homicidal enough.
posted by naoko at 9:38 PM on September 30, 2011

1369 Coffee House in Central Sq. has the best damn coffee.
posted by benito.strauss at 7:56 AM on October 1, 2011

Good luck finding seats at 1369!

My vote is for Tisch or Ginn at Tufts. No guest wireless - which may be a good thing depending what you're working on, and there are usually desktops you can use.
posted by canine epigram at 6:03 PM on October 2, 2011

Hop the T to the MIT student center. There are a bunch of places around there to study.
posted by rmd1023 at 4:00 PM on October 9, 2011