By Sophia Raspanti
It’s no secret: the library system at UNC is incredibly impressive. With over 10 libraries open to students, UNC offers a variety of study spaces where students can congregate and work. Aside from the library system, UNC is home to multitudes of gorgeous, relaxing, and quiet study spaces that can be found all over campus. At Carolina Housing, we have compiled a list of 11 hidden study spots on campus that we recommend checking out! Happy studying!
Graham Memorial Library
Score: 4.5/5
Found on far North Campus, Graham Memorial Hall is home to Honors Carolina, as well as a beautiful lobby that is perfect for studying! The Graham Memorial lobby is open Monday through Thursday, from 7:30am – 4:30pm. The lobby is home to comfortable chairs, couches, tables, and even two working fireplaces! A wall of windows brings beautiful light into the space and looks out on a patio space that is great for studying when the weather is nice! This space is so beautiful, calm, and relaxing: we only wish it was open longer!
Wilson Music Library
Score: 5/5
Wilson Library stands at the south boundary of Polk Place, and is home to the gorgeous Farrington Reading Room, the rare books collection, and the Wilson Music Library. This special library offers a stark change from the silent Farrington Reading Room upstairs, and is a relaxing space to study, all while surrounded by music! The Wilson Music Library is open Monday through Friday at 9:00am to 5:00pm. The library is found in the basement of Wilson Hall, so if you are looking for respite from the heat and sun, we highly recommend checking this location out!
Hill Hall
Score: 5/5!
Hill Hall is a state-of-the-art recital hall for music students at UNC. Hill Hall offers a beautiful, modern, and open space to study in. With many windows and beautiful woodwork, students can study in the rotunda of Hill Hall, on either the first or second floors. Hill Hall is open 7 days a week from 7:30am – 10:00pm. Talk about great hours! We recommend students living in the Kenan community to check this space out, as it is very close!
Stone Center Balcony
Score: 5/5
Found across the street from Genome, the Stone Center is home to a host of African American literature, art, and culture. The Stone Center is also a wonderful place for students to study, as there are many open spaces on both the first and second floor that offer quiet, open places for students to work. The balcony area of the Stone Center is hidden within the trees, offering an opportunity to work surrounded by nature! The Stone Center operates Monday-Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm. We highly recommend you explore this space as the weather gets warmer!
Venable/Kenan Hall
Score: 5/5
Venable and Kenan Hall are part of the gigantic chemistry building complex found on main campus. Aside from beautiful architecture, this complex offers many study spots throughout the floors and buildings. Located along South Road, this building is equally accessible for students living on both south and north campus. There is a lot of room and lots of space to spread out, so there are many unique places for students to settle down and study! The building is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 10:30pm, leaving plenty of time to check it out!
Marisco Hall
Score: 7.5/5
Located at one of the southernmost points on campus, Marisco hall is a beautiful building home to biological research at UNC. The first floor lobby area is filled with tables, chairs, and couches, as well as an on-site coffee shop: Saledelias! Marisco is open to all students on Monday-Friday from 6:00am – 6:00pm. While this location may feel a bit far of a walk for students, we promise that the travel is worth it... especially if you live on South Campus!
FedEx Global Building Rooftop Study Area
Score: 10/5!
The FedEx global building is home to many international services offered at UNC. The building is also home to large open spaces with comfortable chairs and tables, perfect for studying or chatting with friends. There is also a coffee shop on the first floor, where students can stop before heading up to the roof to study! This study spot is incredibly unique: we haven’t seen many study spaces on rooftops anywhere else! The FedEx global building is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 7:30pml
Campus Y
Score: 10/5
Found on north campus, across from the Old Well, the Campus Y is a collaborative space where students, staff, faculty, and community members work together to advocate for social justice. Campus Y is also home to cozy study spaces and a 100% student-run coffee shop: Meantime Coffee! The Campus Y is located near the Old w]Well, and is only a short walk from both Old East and Old West residence halls.
Health Science Library Fourth Floor
Score: 5/5
Found in the heart of UNC’s research campus, the Health Science Library is a beautiful, modern, and open space that is perfect for studying solo and working with friends and classmates! The Health Science Library offers many spaces perfect for group work, as well as many quiet spaces perfect for independent study. The library is connected to a coffee shop, Friend’s Café, in case you’d like to grab a latte before heading in for a few hours of studying! The Health Science library is open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 5pm, Friday from 8am to 8pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm. While this location may be a bit of a walk from most North Campus residence halls, this library is very accessible to students on South Campus!
Sloan Art Library
Score: 4.5/5
The Sloan Art Library is found at the edge of north campus, near Old West and Old East! The Sloan Art library is a quiet, secluded space that offers a serene study spot for UNC students. Students can reserve tables to study at, and there are a variety of spaces hidden between the bookshelves for homework marathons. The Sloan Art Library is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Sundays from 4pm to 8pm.
