Empty seats at Berry Library's normally sedate Novack Caf become prime real estate as reading period descends on the College and finals approach. Laptops, masses of scattered papers and caffeinated drinks populate the tables.
Undergraduates arrive hours early to secure a study space, leaving personal belongings on an otherwise-empty table or chair to reserve their spots for the remainder of the night.
"I definitely notice more people, more laptops, more people falling asleep in their chairs," first-term graduate student Kathleen Fortin said. "I used to walk in during evenings and there was no one in here. People look more wacked-out -- in the whole library, too."
Loners tend to choose four person, rectangular tables on the sides while groups opt for the larger, circular tables in the center of the eatery. Some students attempt to shut out the noise, wearing earplugs or headphones, while others scan the room for distractions.
Even many people who don't usually work in the Caf have chosen to do so now.
"We're doing a group project, so it's a central place to meet," Jordan Feltus '05 said. "I don't study here often, but I work behind the counter and it's definitely busier during finals."
Location is a key factor in study location choice, according to Novack frequenters. A self-confessed "Tower Room addict," Erin Lessner '05 said she often chooses Novack because it is close to her room. Moreover, "I like that they have fruit and yogurt -- it's a nice change from the vending machines. They also have a large selection of teas," Lessner said.
At 9 p.m. last night, the shelves at the Caf itself were still stocked with goodies like cookies, brownies and cupcakes. The register was unusually busy, with lines four to six students deep. Nick Feltham '05, the only cashier working, could barely spare a moment.
Between repeated requests for chai, he said that there is definitely a difference between finals and the rest of the term. The Caf often gets an influx of students after midnight because the library upstairs closes and the students spill in. The area as a whole is open 24-hours-a-day, but food service stops at 2 a.m.
Students purchase more of everything -- milk, Rice Krispie Treats, bottled water -- in the weeks before finals. Often, supplies will be depleted before the close of business at the Caf.
According to Feltham, weary scholars camped in the Caf occasionally get a reprieve from their studies.
"Once a term, the AD guys (I think) come in," Feltham said. "They walk around naked for a couple of minutes and then leave."
