Six Places to Study Off Campus

Article and Photos by Jeannette Carrington

jcarrington@lc.edu

Studying in the same location can feel boring or uninspiring at times. Whether you usually study on campus or at home, sometimes a change of scenery can give you the boost you need to power through, especially while studying for final exams. Here are six locations for you to check out in Alton and Edwardsville that are quiet or have minimal background noise.

Maeva’s Coffee – Built inside Alton’s historic Milton Schoolhouse, Maeva’s is a 100% crowd-sourced and independently funded community coffee house. You will find cozy corners to settle into inside and, during the warmer months, they open their patio. Extra seating is available in the hall outside of the main store front. Free WiFi is available. They have a well-rounded selection of hot coffees and teas, with a large variety of syrups and add-ins. Maeva’s roasts their own coffee and has a constantly changing assortment of baked goods. They have a good selection of cold drinks as well, which pair well with the patio seating on warm days. I recommend the Italian Cream Soda.

Post Commons – A coffee house, all day brunch kitchen, and event space located in a repurposed Post Office. Idle Roasting Co. is their in-house roaster. The space is huge. You can find a corner to settle into in one of the many sections and rooms located on the main floor. There are many places to sit and study or have small groups meet. The area is large enough that different small groups are not in danger of bothering each other. Free WiFi is available. They have a wide range of cold and hot drinks, along with syrups and extras. I recommend the sparkling matcha lemonade on a hot day. It is very refreshing.

Melvin Price Locks & Dam – Located with the National Great Rivers Museum, they have a pavilion with many tables that would be great for studying. It is a quiet area mostly. You can watch boats and barges come through or bird watch. There is a bike trail on the levee nearby which would be great when you want to take a break and stretch your legs. There are bathrooms available as well.

Edwardsville Township Community Park (Airplane Park) – A large park with many pavilions perfect for studying. Some of them are in the back of the park away from the busy road. There are bathrooms for the public as well as an electric car charging station for those who drive electric cars. This park also provides Free WiFi.

Leclaire Park – Located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Edwardsville, this park is a great place to study. They have a couple of pavilions that are far away from the playground so there shouldn’t be much noise. The view of the lake creates a peaceful setting while studying. They do not have WiFi, so you will have to study unplugged or use your phone as a hotspot.

Edwardsville Public Library – The library recently completed extensive renovations where they revamped their computer labs and added private study rooms. You must reserve the rooms, just as you would reserve a computer. They are perfect for studying alone or with a small group. The enclosed room ensures that your group doesn’t interfere with other patrons’ enjoyment. You can use a computer in the lab or bring your laptop to connect to the Free WiFi. They upgraded their electrical system and have new tables with reading lights. Now everyone will have a chance to plug-in when needed.