Three office pods were recently installed at the Hazel Park District Library. While the pods were still awaiting new furniture Oct. 8, they were already functional and in use, providing a private space for research, meetings and more.
By: Andy Kozlowski | Madison-Park News | Published October 14, 2024
HAZEL PARK — Patrons of the Hazel Park District Library can now access office pods, private soundproof rooms that provide the perfect space for things like meetings, projects, podcasting and playing a musical instrument.
While the furniture in them is temporary, as the library awaits new custom-made furniture from the manufacturer, the pods themselves are largely finished and functional. Visitors to the library, located at 123 E. Nine Mile Road, were already using them at press time.
“They’re especially helpful for those who have sound aversion, and they can also be good for people who just need a break to clear their head,” said Alissa Sullivan, Hazel Park’s mayor pro tem. “We’re pretty excited for them.”
Randy Ernst-Meyer, the adult and teen librarian, said in an email that one pod is on the second floor near the western staircase, another is near the eastern window in the adult fiction section on the first floor, and yet another is in the reading nook near the magazine section, also on the first floor.
The pods are designed to reduce sound coming in and out of the space by 60-70%. Each features a desk, table, four chairs and a variety of electrical outlets and USB ports.
They were made possible with a $100,000 appropriation in the state budget, which described them as “learning pods.”
“We are very grateful for the work of our library board representative, Barbara Winter, and our state representative, Mike McFall,” Ernst-Meyer said.
He described some of the uses that patrons have found so far.
“Students have used them for collaborative homework assignments, singing, and to read. Adults have used the pods to work on projects, and we have had a number of them ask about using the pods for vlogs (short online videos) and other YouTube/TikTok things,” Ernst-Meyer said.
He noted the pods are equipped with professional microphones, lighting setups and holders for laptops, tablets and phones. Patrons can also request headphones, as well as blue screens and green screens for digitally altering the background in their videos.
Amy Beem, the youth librarian, said she has seen the pods used in a variety of ways.
“We’ve been having teens use them to study and practice for (theater) tryouts. Today, a patron used one for a Zoom call for a hearing,” Beem said in an email.
While libraries have a reputation as a quiet place for reading and research, some people may still find it difficult to concentrate in a public environment where they feel out in the open. The more private nature of the pods can make a difference for them.
And with the library located next door to both Hazel Park City Hall and the 43rd District Court, the pods could also benefit municipal employees and lawyers meeting with clients.
“They (the pods) are so nice for patrons to use when they need quiet or privacy,” Beem said.
Sullivan commended McFall for his work securing funds for the pods in the state budget during last year’s appropriations process. McFall served on the Hazel Park City Council prior to joining the Michigan House of Representatives.
She said the pods are yet another example of the diverse offerings at the library, and of how the library has become a hub for the community.
“I think libraries, ours included, are often thought of as spaces for kids and families, but they’re just as much spaces for adults researching careers, filling out job applications, making photo copies, completing tax information and more. They’re great educational resources, and offer fun events like ladies’ nights and craft nights,” Sullivan said. “These pods will enhance those resources even further. They’re another way that our library is able to give back to the community.”
For more information, call the Hazel Park District Library at (248) 546-4095.