Club Monroe Library, meet Club Borders.
It may be the new hot spot to study this semester, and “club-goers” don’t even need their Loyola Express Card to get in during exam week.
Although this club ends the party a little earlier then Loyola’s Monroe library, Borders’ ambiance, created by the earth-colored, dark-wood-furnished, various nooks of the bookstore where people gather to chat, people-watch and study, may make for a fresh take on the average study party.
Previously the site of the historic Baltman Funeral home, 3338 St. Charles Avenue is now home to Borders Bookstore, which is in close proximity to major universities in the New Orleans area. Borders Bookstore may be a new alternative for college students to consider — which is exactly what General Manager Yvette Kay is excited about.
“It’s fantastic, we love it. Most students hang out in the café or upstairs where they mix and burn music, ” Kay said of the stores highly frequented college-aged visitors.
Borders, accessible by the St. Charles streetcar and situated on the corner of St. Charles and Louisiana Avenues, opened on Nov. 21, 2008, which prevented some students from visiting the store because of finals week and holiday traveling, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know about it.
When asked if they had visited the new Borders, Sheridyn Miller, psychology sophomore, and Tyler Yee, theatre junior, both said, “No, but I want to go.” Miller and Yee said they planned on utilizing the new study venue. “I actually prefer to study at a bookstore rather than a library,” Miller said.
Two entrances are available for parking at Borders, one on St. Charles Avenue with limited on street parking, and another parking lot entrance accessible from Louisiana Avenue with ample, well-lit parking spaces.
The new bookstore isn’t appealing to everyone, however. “It’s more convenient for me to study (at the Monroe library),” said Loan Tran, psychology senior.
Wherever students choose to get their study on, Borders is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Rita West can be reached at [email protected].
