The library’s closure for the next three and a half semesters has caused a bit more creativity while searching for a quiet place to write a paper or cram for an exam. Despite the Lilly Gallery’s transformation to a sometimes collaborative and sometimes silent study space, it gets crowded and sends students searching for spaces. Here are a few spots around Davidson that might offer some quiet, inspiration, and a good coffee:

Summit Coffee on Main Street

The Main Street location of Summit is located between Ben and Jerry’s and Main Street Books and across from CVS. This coffee shop offers the same menu to Summit Coffee on Paterson Court, (minus the avocado toast) but is a brief reprieve from campus. The space is tight, compounded by the line that commonly extends out the doors. Though, directly to the right of the door is a steep staircase to tables upstairs that offer a bit more space. Or, follow the length of the store to the exit onto the back patio where the tables and chairs are plentiful to enjoy the fall weather in Davidson.

Davidson Public Library

While not comparable to the E.H. Little Library, the Davidson Public Library provides a similar atmosphere. It is located to the left of CVS and across Concord Road from Davidson College Presbyterian Church. A lawn stretching the front of the library commonly acts as the center of events like concerts held by the town or Christmas in Davidson. While the library is often a gathering place, quiet is encouraged inside and thus is a bit more dependable than coffee shops. The indoor portion of the library offers many seating options for diligent studiers or readers.

Waterbean Coffee

Only a five to ten minute walk from campus is another coffee shop environment. A walk also provides a good break and a feeling of adventure that hopefully inspires productivity. Waterbean shares a shopping center with The Crazy Pig and Habibi Lebanon. Follow the right side of Main Street, and Waterbean is a straight shot from campus. This space offers even more isolation than the Main Street shops that directly border Davidson’s campus. Corners of this slightly oddly shaped coffee shop provide sitting room for a long study session fueled by a cup of coffee or tea. 

Although these alternate study locations require a little walk from campus, it seems like more of a trip. Bringing some excitement to a long overdue study session on a Sunday afternoon, hopefully allowing preparation for the week and conquering of the Sunday scaries.