Mary Demarco/Fourth Estate

Studying in this historic building is the best way to get your work done

BY MARY J. DEMARCO, OPINION EDITOR

So you’re looking for a place to study, but Fenwick Library and the Johnson Center have become too familiar. It might be time for a change of scenery. Fenwick is often overwhelmingly crowded, and the Johnson Center is rarely silent. Finding an open chair in the building during the middle of the day can feel like trying to summon the ghost of your ex– it’s just not happening. 

Sometimes, a change of scenery is necessary to get any work done. Luckily, Mason students have the advantage of being in close proximity to Washington, D.C, which like any city, offers numerous study spots to explore, including Tatte Bakery and Cafe, Valley Brook Tea and Potter’s House Cafe and Bookstore. 

While coffee shops and bakeries provide an aesthetic environment, they can’t compare to studying at a historic monument like the Library of Congress. If you want to feel like the main character in a movie, this is the place to be.

  A main character in a film is always surrounded by a scenic environment. As you approach the library, you’re surrounded by neoclassical architecture buildings such as the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Upon entering you’re met with polished wood and detailed European-style paintings. The most common spot for students in the LOC is the Main Reading Room, which contains \ rows of desks where you can set up camp and… finally study.

But before doing so, you will need to secure a temporary library card. Fortunately, the process is quick and simple as long as there isn’t a long line–though, typically, there isn’t. Near the reading room, there is a registration area where you meet with a staff member, show your ID and take a photo. The staff member then prints out your library card, which is  valid for the next four years. 

Mary Demarco/Fourth Estate

If you look 160 feet above, a Michaelangelo-esque painting presents itself, depicting personified countries from around the world. And the domed masterpiece is only a fraction of the stunning artwork contained within the building.

All of this to say: while Fenwick Library is a great place to study, it’s important to take advantage of the opportunities the district has to offer. 

Mason senior Elena Paige Haley tested the wonders of the LOC. 

“It really helped me lock in because you go in [the reading room] and it was dead silent. Everyone was working. It’s not like Fenwick where you go to the silent floor and there’s still people talking,” Haley said. “It was a very immersive space, and it did help me really concentrate. I wrote an insane amount and we were only there 30 minutes”

Between the ethereal artwork, the reverent study space, and the no-cost entry, who wouldn’t want to study in the biggest library in the world? 

According to the library’s official website, it holds over 25.77 million cataloged books  and more than 15.99 million items in its nonclassified print collections–making it the largest  library in existence. 

“[It] had been on my bucket list for a couple of years, and I wish I’d gone sooner. It was probably one of the most beautiful places in D.C. that I’ve ever seen,” Haley said.

The Library of Congress is a free study space for students, and every Mason student should visit at least once before graduating.