UTB Presents: Your Ultimate Guide To Study Spaces On Campus

Finals season is here, and if you're reading this, it probably means you can't study. If you're in Van Pelt or Fisher, the guy in front of you won't stop farting and some idiot nearby is chewing gum with an open mouth. (Seriously, stop that.) If you're in Saxby's– Well, if you're lucky enough to have a table, let alone a power source– it's so loud that you want to headbutt your Math104 textbook. The point is, your regular study spots suck. If you're not willing to stay secluded in your room but don't want to go downtown for a quiet corner, let UTB guide you in the direction of your dream study space.

Sweeten Alumni House Location and hours: 3533 Locust Walk; varies, closed at nights Outlets?: Few Food nearby?: Yes Best for: Writing a paper Description: How many times have you passed by this place without even giving it a second thought? The Alumni House isn't just for alumni– anyone can use it. It's really lovely inside, with comfy couches, nice bookshelves, fireplaces, and dark wooden chairs. And it's so close to everything on campus, it's almost a crime you're not there now.

Penn Museum Library Location and hours: Academic Wing (third floor) at 3260 South Street; varies, check website Outlets?: Few Food nearby?: No Best for: Reading  after a large meal Description: It's far away, there are few outlets and the only food nearby is the museum café. Sucks, right? It might, but this rarely-frequented library is constantly silent and there's plenty of space for lounging. It's a great place to go and think when you're feeling overwhelmed by all the work you have yet to do, and when you're ready to take a break, you can stroll around the galleries to see artifacts thousands of years old. Neat, huh?

ICA Reading Room Location and hours: 118 S. 36th Street (36th and Sansom); varies, check website (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) Outlets?: No Food nearby?: Yes Best for: Finishing up your thesis Description: The ICA's mezzanine level has a small reading area with wonderful views of the area. It's a cozy, quiet spot that will allow you frequent breaks to go see great art. We should warn you, however, that the reading area is very small and you'll have to get here early to get yourself a spot.

Fisher Fine Arts Graduate Carrels Location and hours: 220 S. 34th Street; varies, check website Outlets?: Yes Food nearby?: Yes Best for: Hanging out with your friend Addy Description: Everyone knows about the Reading Room here, but few venture to the carrels in the back past the bathrooms. A favorite haunt of art history grad students, the carrels (all three floors) are bare, quiet, nearly window-less and empty. If you need complete silence and isolation, go there now– turn right at the end of the circulation desk to three floors of wonder.

Second and Third floors of Houston Hall Location and hours: 3417 Spruce; open 24/7 for finals Outlets?: Few Food nearby?: Yes Best for: Post second-snack short-term reading Description: You've tried studying in Houston Market, right? It's almost impossible. Even the first floor is difficult, between the breezy doorways and constant commotion. Head up to the second and third floors to snag a comfy chair near an outlet to get some studying in. If you're really lucky, someone will have left a conference room open that you can duck into until it gets used again.

Meyerson Lounge Location and hours: 210 S. 34th Street; varies, closed at nights and weekends Outlets?: No Food nearby?: Yes Best for: A quiet study session with classmates Description: An eyesore in the middle of the design building? Whatever. The newly-redesigned lounge in the basement is honestly café shit-tay, but it's almost always empty and quiet.

Annenberg Library Location and hours: 3620 Walnut; varies, check website Outlets?: Depends Food nearby?: Yes Best for: Long-term reading Description: There are few outlets here (unless you're lucky enough to grab a study booth), but plenty of empty couches and quiet students mean your next reading session will be productive.

Lounge at The Inn at Penn Location and hours: 2nd floor of 3600 Sansom St. (use the Walnut entrance); open 24/7 (use Sansom Street entrance after 1 a.m.) Outlets?: Yes Food nearby?: Yes Best for: Anything and everything Description: This is truly the best-kept secret at Penn. We almost don't want to share it with you because it is so kick-ass. But we love you, loyal UTB readers, so you're welcome in advance. The Inn at Penn's second-floor lounge is warm (Two fireplaces. Two!), cozily decorated, almost always empty, has free wifi and is full of outlets, comfy chairs and couches. There's constant smooth jazz playing, but it's so soft you'll eventually forget it's there. Also, the bathrooms are pretty rad, as our friends over a Street can tell you.