The bar exam is just four weeks away, which means we have a lot of graduates putting in long study hours in the library.  For those seeking to minimize distractions from environmental noise in the library, we have a few suggestions.  First, the library is usually at its most serene during the evening hours after 5 p.m.  Also, where you sit in the library makes a big difference.  The study areas on the first and second floors opening onto the main reading room typically have the highest level of noise.  If you’re sensitive to noise and movement, you’ll want to steer clear of these areas because both of the library’s service desks will generate some sound while the library is open.  Not surprisingly, the quietest study areas are the stacks located in the back of the library on the first and second floors.    If you want to ensure that you won’t be distracted while you’re studying, you might want to invest in a MP3 player.  These days, iTunes offers lots of study-conducive tracks, including jazz, classical music, and nature sounds.  My own recommendation -- anything by John Coltrane.  My handful of John Coltrane CDs and tapes got me through law school finals and the bar exam.  (Yes, I took the CA bar before the sleek and compact iPod was invented and had to haul my clunky Walkman and cassette tapes to the library.)  Also, for those of you who prefer chirping birds or surf sounds to instrumental music, Christopher Breen has a useful article on finding really long nature sound tracks on iTunes.  Finally, don’t forget that Heafey always has a bin of free ear plugs available at the Circulation Desk.