It’s tough to study in any environment short of a cloister. Distractions both active (the little brother, your cute roommate) and passive (television, stereo, or refrigerator) loom everywhere. Libraries are nice because they are fiercely monitored to remove the active distractions, and the closest you can get to a visual escape is the Internet — and that’s a study tool, remember. The downtown library is comfortable, packed with reference materials, and almost like a monastery for your brain.