Best Museums and Libraries in NYC

New York City is full of some of the best museums and libraries the country has to offer. A visit to one is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon or spend the day with friends. They can provide spaces to study as well as hangout spots with a laidback atmosphere. Another plus to all these spaces in the city is that they are often discounted or even free for students! This makes them accessible as great places for students and provides the opportunity to explore different arts and cultures all in one space. Hopefully, this list of some of the spaces I recommend in the city will inspire you to explore them. From the MET to the New York public library, there are tons of wonderful spaces for a student to visit in this beautiful city.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The MET is one of the most visited art museums in the world and contains everything from an ancient Egyptian temple to a modern art section. The museum contains over 2 million works and is one of the largest art museums in the world. It is a wonderful place to span a rainy afternoon or gloomy day. The MET can even be visited more than once as there is no way a person could get through all its collections in a day. The best part is that the MET is donation-based for NYC students so you can pay as little as a penny and get in.

South Street Seaport Museum: This museum is a nice way to spend an hour or two and is very close to Pace. They have two boats they do tours on as well and it's a nice way to learn about some of the shipping history of the city. It has a large collection of maritime materials and even a print shop. It's free or pay what you wish and in a beautiful and historic part of the city.

New York Public Library Main Branch: A beautiful building in and of itself the library is also an amazing place to study. It is completely free to enter and contains the rose room which is used almost exclusively as an area to read and study and cannot be entered simply to take pictures. This makes it ideal for a student looking to get work done. While books cannot be checked out here just across the street is the Mid Manhattan library where you can obtain a library card as well as any book you may want to read.

American Museum of Natural History: Another pay what you wish museum for students this one has a recently built new wing. One of the main focuses of the museum is the life-size blue whale in the Hall of Ocean Life. It also has a hall of gems and minerals that reopened after renovations two years ago. My favorite section is the dinosaur bones where you can find everything from a T-Rex to a triceratops. This museum is great if you like nature or simply want to see where Night at the Museum was set.

P.S.1 MoMA: This museum is located in Long Island City in Queens it is a community-focused art museum. Many of the exhibitions are from community members and are often different from what is seen in a traditional art museum. Much of it is modern art including short films and all types of exhibitions. It is located in an old public school and includes a cafe. The museum is free for NYC residents and $5 for students. It's a great way to see some community-focused art in a beautiful neighborhood.

Central Library, Brooklyn: The library is a great place to study or simply spend the day reading a book. They have millions in their collection and plenty of spaces to sit down and spend some time on whatever you need. A bonus is that's it right next to Prospect Park so you could grab a book and take a stroll or spend part of your day in each spot. There is a cafe inside and even computer access if needed. It's an amazing library that provides tons of services to the public.

Museum at Eldridge Street: A personal favorite that is closer to Pace, this museum is a beautifully restored synagogue. It teaches a lot of Jewish history specifically about immigration and the Lower East Side. The inside is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the city with a stunning central window. It is certainly worth going just to see that. Admission is paid what you wish and Mondays and Fridays. The museum is also in Chinatown so you could always grab a bite to eat before or after you go.

The MET cloisters: This section of the MET is near Washington Heights and includes many religious relics. Part of the building was formed by French cloisters that were shipped brick by brick and rebuilt in NYC. The buildings have a very gothic feeling and are nice to wander around, especially on a sunny day. It has a very relaxing peaceful feeling and is in Fort Tryon Park surrounded by nature. The museum is pay what you wish for students and certainly worth the subway trip.

New Amsterdam Library: This is the only New York public library branch downtown and though it is small we are lucky to have it. If you're a student you can get a library card here and this comes with tons of benefits including free admission to center museums and a great online database as well as physical books. This library is a quiet place to study where you can take your laptop or some books and really get some work done. It is nice to have a public library downtown as parts of the city still don't have one.

National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian Institution: Another great museum downtown with an extensive collection. It tells the history of many different Native American tribes as well as Native groups throughout the world. It's in a beautiful building and also has a lot of hands-on learning opportunities. It was surprisingly immersive and a great place to learn. The museum is always free and a great place for students to take advantage of.

Written by Kat Reed

Photography by Sophia Keefe

How Gen Z is Bringing Back Magazine Culture

Magazines have been a staple of society for quite a while. Whether you’re looking for information on celebrities, pop culture, household items, vehicles, you name it, there’s more than likely a magazine that is based around that topic. A lot of times, they are geared towards advertising products and making a profit. Zines, on the other hand, are not always as widespread as magazines. They are not commercially published and normally are created by a single person or group. Occasionally, they are preferred by some readers since they can be more personal. Lately, more zines have been popping up as Gen Z works to bring back the magazine-esque culture. To figure out what has been more popular as of late, we collaborated with The Koi Pond from NinetyEightLA to conduct an online survey based on both magazines and zines. A special thank you goes out to Rachael Previti for setting this all up!

Current Magazine Trends

Even in the digital age, magazine popularity has not declined. There are still thousands of them in print and, thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. 74% of respondents said that they have picked up or interacted with a magazine in some form within the last year, with 22% of these people having read one in the recent weeks of the survey being conducted. 16% even said that they had engaged with one within days of taking the survey, clearly showing how relevant magazines have remained. While a lot of people couldn’t recall which magazine they had perused, the 20% who could name Vogue as their latest indulgent.

A good reason for Vogue being the most popular amongst all of the other titles could be due to its cover and/or overall aesthetic. Even though many try to follow the “don’t judge a book by its cover” saying, 70% of the respondents said that they do consider the cover image/aesthetic when they go about selecting a magazine to read. However, 66% did say that they prioritize the content that is inside of the publications.

Now, as previously discussed, content can vary depending on the magazine that one picks up. We asked readers what they gravitate towards when they are deciding on what to select. Once again aligning with Vogue being the most popular choice, 56% said that they prefer to flip through fashion or style-related content, finding that most exciting. Not far behind though is photography with 54%, which only furthers the idea that readers value creativity in all different forms. This also conveys how visual appeals are significant to drawing and maintaining the audience’s attention. Following these two popular topics, we have pop culture and celebrity news coming in with 46%, lifestyle with 44%, and editorial and op-eds with 42%.

As we’ve already established, magazines are EVERYWHERE. It’s just a matter of deciding what topic you want to read about and what locations sell said topic. After asking our audience where they purchase their magazines, bookstores won the polls with 38%. Considering that the products of a bookstore consist of paperback and hardcover novels, card games, trinkets, and magazines, this should come as no surprise that they are the dominant distributor. Readers also said that they can find their choice magazine(s) in other places, 22% being their local grocery store and 14% being from convenience stores. I suppose that makes buying magazines pretty convenient, right?

Reader Relationships with Magazines and Zines

From Tiger Beat to GQ, magazines are made for everyone. While certain preferences may change over time, it’s clear that people still want to engage with magazines due to the ranges of information that they’re able to provide on different issues. For example, as young kids or teens, many wanted a magazine for the free poster that was inside, the fun activities that were included, relationship advice, makeup trends, and features from their favorite celebrities. As they got older, these now young adults have begun to lean more towards wanting to read about their industry, home decor, and just new knowledge on various topics overall (recipes, workouts, current events, etc.)! One common consensus that has been echoed throughout quite a few of the respondents is that, although many love a tangible copy of magazines, it has started to become too expensive to keep up with subscription costs- or even just a single copy. A slew of respondents have said that they love collecting physical magazines and being able to put the covers of them on their walls or just have them as a keepsake. 76% of the respondents voiced that they would rather have a physical copy of a magazine and/or zine, with only 24% expressing a preference for online copies. But, when there is similar information online that is much more easily accessible (financially wise), many have decided to opt out of purchasing or receiving magazines for the time being.

“I got Vogue regularly as a teenager as a gift, but couldn’t keep up the subscription when it ran out (can’t justify the extra expense).” -Reader Response

Still, that doesn’t mean that people aren’t engaging with magazines anymore, as one can deduce from the already provided statistics. The main consumers of the magazine and zine industries tend to be people who are into fashion and, overall, the arts. One of the main factors for this seems to be that people like to stay up to date on what is occurring in their industries. Sure, they could utilize the vast digital media for that but, sometimes, magazines and/or zines will go more into depth on the chosen topic. A large reason for many though seems to be that they truly want to support their industries by purchasing the physical copies while simultaneously learning what exactly goes into creating physical magazine(s).

Transition to Zines

In case you’re not aware of what a zine is, let us explain. A zine, derived from ‘fanzine’, is a self-published magazine that is not widely circulated and is normally created by either a single person or a small group of people. It doesn’t profit off of any advertisements and it usually features original works from the people that are helping to mold said zine. There tend to be a lot more creative liberties taken with zines due to the lack of corporate restrictions, which can be freeing for both the readers and creators.

That being said, people come across zines in various locations, with 60% of readers saying that the most frequent place to encounter one is online. This supports the notion that many are switching to reading articles online due to the cost of physical copies or subscriptions to the much more general magazines. Even so, bookstores don’t fall too far behind, coming in with 40%, showcasing that there is still a demand for physical copies. A few respondents even said that they’ve happened upon zines at art markets, and community events, or have them being distributed on the streets.

When asked, most people said that they don’t have a particular zine that is their favorite. More often than not, they will pick one up because it catches their eye. The reasoning for this can vary: 42% said that they want to support an independent artist and/or creator, 28% stated that the content inside intrigued them, and 22% were simply attracted to the art or overall design of the zine. These all tend to be the motivating factors when it comes to why readers take an interest in zines.

Mainstream magazines aren’t always able to promote or share underground artists since they tend to focus on what is popular at the moment (although, some do have columns that feature up-and-coming creators). Zines, on the other hand, are often seen as a platform for artists from every nook and cranny to further share their art with like-minded individuals. When conducting this survey, we found that 62.5% of respondents were interested in producing their zine, further signifying the creative intellect that is reached when these self-published works are shared.

The individuality and artistry that are expressed within zines tend to be one of the driving forces in people preferring them over magazines. 40% of our audience said that they would rather read a zine due to its authenticity, accessibility, creativity, and how community-based it can be. Additionally, while magazines are more inclined to stay in a safe circle of content, zines push the boundaries of what they can and cannot publish.

“A zine is less manufactured. It has more soul and it’s more a reflection of its creators than a corporation's magazine.” -Reader Response

A zine’s influence is much more unique as opposed to a magazine’s, which is another strong appeal to choosing them over the latter. As quite a few of our respondents expressed, these usually locally published issues delve deeper into underground cultures as well as activist campaigns that aren’t always given a stage to speak on. They also are inclined to be much more handcrafted than magazines since they are not mass produced mass-produced.

Conclusion: A Comeback

With how active and engaged Gen Z is within the artistic culture, it only makes sense that magazines make a comeback but, this time, with more creative liberties to be taken. The solution? Zines. It’s exciting to see the new era of publications that are among us and, with how many different routes there are to be taken within this imaginative world, which way each individual will go about expressing their voice.

Written by Ashley Lavalle

Survey Results from The Koi Pond. Check them out on Instagram!

Study Tips and Tricks

To put it simply, studying is tough. It’s hard to figure out what technique works for you and, even when that technique does eventually succeed, maintaining one’s focus without constant distractions can seem impossible. So, to help combat this struggle that many students seem to have, I’ve put together a list of some study tips and tricks that have either aided me or a friend when we’ve been in search of a new way to review.

Please know that everyone studies differently! What may work for one person might only cause another to have a rough go at absorbing their material. With that being said, only apply the tips mentioned below in your studying habits if they work for YOU!

Find a quiet space to work in.

A tried and trusted method, working in a quiet space where no distractions can inhibit you truly do wonders. But, make sure it’s a space where you will ACTUALLY work (i.e. don’t sit on your bed, even if it is quiet there). But, if you’re someone who works better with noise…

Listen to music!

When I say listen to music though, I don’t mean your favorite artists. Sadly, that’ll be a surefire way to distract you from your studying. I find that putting on music without words tends to work best! So, maybe check out some Lofi beats (my favorite!) or even a bit of classical music (although I will admit, classical does normally end up making me a bit sleepy).

Body doubling

If you’re unaware of what body doubling is, let me explain it real quick. Body doubling is when you and someone else (a friend, partner, etc.) work together simultaneously on your own tasks. If you’re like me, you get next to nothing done if you’re trying to work on your own. Most of the time, my solution is to do work with a friend while on FaceTime or to meet up with them in person while we both study/work together- body doubling! In all honesty, this truly works wonders for me. Maybe it’ll help you, too!

Change your scenery

A lot of times, I get a bit too used to the environment around me and begin to get quite distracted by anything that’s lying around. To counter that, I head to a cafe or a park! More often than not, I will end up at the Barnes and Noble on Union Square to get some studying done.

Rewrite your notes

Tedious? Yes. But does it work? Also yes. Rewriting your notes will really get all of the necessary information to stick into your brain, even though it can appear as a strenuous task at first.

Take breaks!

I know this may not seem like much of a study tip but, trust me, it helps in the long run. No matter what technique you decide to go with, it’s important to take breaks in between bursts of reviewing material. You won’t be able to properly process anything if your brain is shortcircuiting with the amount of information being fed into it. Check out the Pomodoro Technique if this is something that interests you!

Put your phone on the other side of the room!

Especially if you’ve decided to study in the comfort of your home, put your phone out of reach! It truly is the biggest distractor and you’d be surprised at how much you could get done when it’s not within arm’s length.

Make a list

Personally, one of my biggest issues when studying is staying on track. I forget what I need to accomplish and sometimes miss out on whole topics. So, I make a list! I write down what needs to be done, if there’s an order I want to do it in, and then check it off as I go (it’s also a bit rewarding getting to put a checkmark next to each task as you complete it).

Have a friend test you (and vice versa)

It’s hard to test yourself and make sure that you’ve got all the information down pat. Call up a friend and maybe make a game out of it! And, most importantly…

Take a deep breath and trust yourself!

Silly, I know, but taking a moment to yourself before a big exam can truly work wonders. More often than not, you already know the material! Stress tends to cloud our brains and, sometimes, it’s inevitable to get around. It’s easier said than done, of course, but we can still give it a shot!

Again, not all of these will work for everyone, so don’t panic if you don’t immediately take to a specific technique! I do hope that at least one of the listed tips has helped you find a new way to study, though. Best of luck in your academic endeavors!

Written by Ashley Lavalle

Photography by Sophia Keefe