で vs に for places, still confused

Question

「図書館で勉強します」uses で but 「図書館に行きます」uses に. both are about 図書館 so why different particle? also saw で used for バス (バスで学校に行きます) so is で also about "method" separately from location?

ramen_grammar · Accepted Answer

Great question because this is exactly where I face-planted at N5. で marks the place WHERE an action happens (勉強します happ

Answer

Great question because this is exactly where I face-planted at N5. で marks the place WHERE an action happens (勉強します happens inside the library, で = the stage the action takes place on) OR the means/tool used (バスで = by means of the bus). に marks a direction/target/destination (行きます = moving TOWARD the library, に = the destination point). So で = "the action's location or the tool used", に = "the direction/goal of movement or purpose". 図書館で勉強します vs 図書館に行きます makes sense once you separate "doing something in/with something" from "heading toward something".

Answer

yeah exactly, once you notice 行く/来る almost always pair with に it becomes automatic