This next study destination is a liiiiiittle bit different than the ones I have previously done. To be quite honest, I didn’t know people were allowed to study here until I came with my Freshman Year Seminar (FYS)Class to take a tour and do a “scavenger hunt” at this location.
The Palmer Museum is an art museum located in the central-western portion of the Penn State campus. With free admission, anyone is able to visit and admire a wide range of art pieces on display (it is the largest art museum between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia according to their website).
As I learned on my tour there with my FYS, they actively encourage people to come and study at the museum due to its quiet and serene atmosphere, something most people find conducive to studying. The only drawback is that backpacks and bags are not allowed in the museum, they have to be stashed away in the closet-area so you have to bring your computer and whatever books you need to study with you in your hands.
Once you enter the museum, there are plenty of nooks and crannies for people to sit and do their work, however they are not necessarily the most comfortable spots, even when they have chairs. Most likely, you will end up sitting on the ground in a corner while a few people meander around you looking at the art.
The art museum is a relatively judgement-free environment so even if you feel awkward sitting and doing homework in there, people admiring the art are not bothered and do not judge any students who choose to sit in there and do work.
Another downside to working in the museum is that there (unsurprisingly) is a lack of outlets in most of the rooms (since art usually does not require being plugged in…. haha). However for these downsides the environment created int he museum is a very quiet and yet bright environment that I know many people find necessary to grind out homework.
As a place to stop between classes or go on a weekend and just sit and grind out a paper with relatively little distractions (besides the art and occasionally the people walking through) the art museum created a unique environment to study in that not many other places or college campuses have to offer to their students. It definitely caters to a niche of people who do not necessarily mind an unconventional place to study, however there are definitely people I have seen taking advantage of it as a study spot.
To be honest I always just study in my room because of there being no other distractions, but if there is a museum I could use to study, then I might just give it a try. As long as it’s not crowded, I guess it could be nice to have a change of scenery. I never thought that someone would choose a museum over a library or a similar facility. Maybe it would depend on what they are studying.
I have never thought of using the museum as a place to study. For me, personally, I either use my room, the Simmons basement, or the library to study. Earlier in the school year, when the temperatures were much warmer, I would use the arboretum or Hort Woods, which are amazing places I would definitely recommend. The museum seems like a fascinating place, and if you ever need a break, all you have to do is walk around for more inspiration.