My first study room experience was a few years ago, at the West End library. Bottom line up front: these are not my favorite study rooms.

Let’s start with the good things: there are five study rooms at West End, so there is less scarcity-induced demand. West End is pretty convenient for my life. (It’s super close to a Trader Joe’s! Must buys: the pasta sauce with the red label, sour scandinavian swimmers, olive fougasse, arugula.) The study rooms are not fancy, but they are comfortable with adequate space and easy electrical outlet access. The library is adjacent to an (admittedly expensive) coffee shop. The study rooms lock automatically, so if you leave to use the restroom, your belongings will be safe. And if you’re not using a study room, there is good table space in the rest of the branch.

Now, why are these not my favorite? Primarily because they are not at all soundproof. While I was working that first time I used the study rooms, the person in the room next to me was on a Zoom with the Office of the Tenant Advocate. I know this because I could hear almost everything that was said. The study rooms lock automatically, so if you leave to use the restroom, you need to wait until a librarian is not engaged in helping another patron to get back in. (Helpful librarians are good! Needing to wait when you don’t know where the librarian is is not good!)

Have you used the study rooms at West End? Do you agree with this review? Share your thoughts!