Kashvi Jain is a third-year psychology student with a minor in interpersonal development. She is interested in human behavior, organizational culture and student life — but mostly, she’s just trying to find the perfect study spot on campus.
There’s an unspoken rule at UBC: if you didn’t study at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKB) did you even study at all?
IKB, which started out as just another campus library, has evolved into a social and cultural phenomenon thanks to Instagram, TikTok and the growth of visually appealing study materials. Academic surroundings are transformed into carefully chosen backdrops by 'day in my life' vlogs, which feature flawlessly framed images of Notion templates, Stanley Cups resting next to sleek MacBooks and effortlessly chic study outfits.
Beyond the filters and productivity gaps, however, there is a more multifaceted reality: IKB is a place where academic focus and covert social pressure coexist.
When you walk inside IKB, you'll notice students completely engrossed in their screens but are they actually studying? The boundary between true productivity and performative work has become hazier due to the growth of 'Studytok,' which emphasizes highly aesthetic, colour-coded Notion pages, elaborate Pomodoro structures and ambient café-style backgrounds. Sometimes at the expense of truly understanding the content, students cautiously arrange their notes and spend hours making them aesthetically pleasing.
The desire to capture and aestheticize the learning process frequently results in a paradox: preparation to study takes longer than studying itself and the distinct social hierarchy of IKB is no exception.
Those who thrive on interaction will find the ground level to be a lively hub for social butterflies, buzzing with conversation and coffee-fueled teamwork. It's a place where friends "study" together, but they spend more time chatting than going over course slides. The quiet floors, such as the Chapman Learning Commons, offer the opposite problem: an almost suffocating quiet in which the slightest sound, such as rustling papers or excessive computer tapping, feels like a violation. Some people find it difficult to focus at all because of the anxiety-inducing atmosphere created by the urge to maintain complete silence.
Students who seem to be very focused are all around you as soon as you enter the library; writing in their notebooks or iPads, browsing through research papers or typing frantically. While this public display of intense study might be inspiring, it also creates an aura of silent comparison.
To create a sense of steady focus, some students feel pressured to stay later than they had intended, work through breaks, or even stay seated the entire time. Studying might become more like a competitive sport than a personal learning experience when you see peers working through their assignments late into the night at crowded tables.
Around midterms and finals, when IKB becomes a battlefield of endurance, pressure increases. As they rush to find a seat, students frequently drop in for all-day study sessions. Burnout may result from a worry of falling behind or from just not being as committed as others. Fatigue is accepted as a badge of honour.
IKB is a place where student life quietly develops in ways that we can all identify with. Preparing for a study session involves a particular flow — that usually begins with the well-chosen fit, whether it's a hoodie that has seen too many late-night study sessions or a North Face jacket. These choices are more than just practical, they add a sense of familiarity and routine to our daily lives. Whether it's a tough backpack slung over our shoulder, a Goyard Saint Louis tote, or a Lululemon bottle or solid thermos, there is an implicit joy in choosing an outfit because we never know when we could see someone we know.
Student life at IKB unfolds in ways that often diverge from the building’s intended purpose. While the treadmill desk — seemingly a brilliant innovation — suggests a future of active studying, it largely goes unused, as learning while walking remains more of a theory than a reality.
Meanwhile, the couches in Chapman are often occupied by students in deep naps rather than deep focus. The Ridington Room, for instance, is infamous for accidental run-ins, making it a space some students deliberately avoid to steer clear of exes, old friends turned strangers cut or even just acquaintances they don’t feel like making small talk with.
The result? A strategic approach to studying where location choice isn’t just about focus but also about social navigation — a constant negotiation between productivity, comfort and the unpredictability of human interaction.
The little treats that help make a long day of schoolwork feel a little more bearable — Blue Chip's cookies and lattes — have evolved into a study essential. Whether we admit it or not, we all participate in these small rituals: the mid-study coffee run, the quiet reward of a pastry after finishing a chapter, the unspoken agreement to take a break at the same time as a friend.. IKB is a place where we try to find a balance between academic commitment and the quiet social currents that define university life. IKB’s atmosphere balances focus and social connection, making it a space for both productivity and presence.
At its core, IKB is still a library, but its transformation into a social media symbol complicates its role as an academic hub. There’s no denying that being in a space where everyone is studying can be motivating. The challenge is finding a balance: using the energy of the space for focus while not getting lost in the performance of productivity.
So, is IKB still the ideal study space? For some, the atmosphere fuels motivation and a sense of belonging. The collective energy, even if partly performative, can be inspiring. For others, the social dynamics create unnecessary stress, making it harder to concentrate.
Personally, I find myself torn between the two. I appreciate the structure IKB provides, but I also recognize how easy it is to get caught up in the external pressures of looking productive rather than actually being productive. If IKB is both a study space and a social stage, how do we navigate it in a way that prioritizes academic success over external distractions? The key is to be intentional with how we engage with these spaces.
Here are some shifts I’m personally working on:
- I’m learning to detach from the idea that productivity has to look a certain way. Instead of spending time perfecting Notion templates or finding the ‘right’ setup, I’m focusing on efficiency and understanding. Studying isn’t about aesthetics, it’s about absorption and application.
- While IKB has its perks, I’ve started exploring alternative study spots across campus. Sometimes a tucked-away corner in Koerner Library or a quiet lounge offers the focus I need without the external distractions.
- I enjoy documenting my student life, but I’m becoming more aware of when content creation starts to overshadow the actual studying. It’s fun to romanticize the process, but not at the expense of genuine academic progress.
IKB isn’t going anywhere and neither is the culture surrounding it. But by being more intentional about how we engage with it, students can reclaim it as a study space, rather than just a backdrop for curated campus life.
This is an opinion article. It reflects the contributor's views and does not reflect the views of The Ubyssey as a whole. Contribute to the conversation by visiting ubyssey.ca/pages/submit-an-opinion.
Share this article
First online
