Iowa State
University

At Iowa State University, the Parks Library faced a challenge familiar to many academic institutions: how to provide students with private, quiet spaces in a large, bustling campus environment. The answer came in the form of phone booths, a solution that has quickly become an essential feature of the library’s offerings.

Founded in 1858, Iowa State University (ISU) has a rich history as a leading research university. The Parks Library, the largest building on campus at 320,000 square feet, is a central hub for the university's 30,000+ students. With a full-time staff of 120, the library serves an average of 6,000 visitors daily, offering a range of resources and spaces to meet the diverse needs of the student body.

Brent Swanson, head of Business Services at Parks Library, oversees both the budget and physical infrastructure of the library. “We’re always on the lookout for ways to upgrade our furniture and spaces to better serve our students,” Brent explained. One recent area of focus has been creating more inclusive and adaptable spaces, particularly in light of the increasing awareness of neurodivergent students’ needs.

“We started seeing a demand for more private spaces, especially with the increase in remote learning during COVID,” Brent explained. The challenge was finding a solution that wouldn’t require extensive construction or break the budget. Traditional construction would have been time-consuming and resource-intensive. Instead, the idea of installing phone booths emerged as a practical and cost-effective solution.

“Responses in our student surveys highlighted the need for individual spaces,” Brent noted. With this feedback in mind, the library explored various options and ultimately decided to put the project out for bid. Pillar Booth was one of the vendors that responded, and they quickly became the top choice for ISU due to their competitive pricing and high-quality features.

“Budget was a big factor for us, and Pillar Booth offered the best value for the price,” Brent stated. The dimensions, amenities like outlets, lighting, and ventilation, and the overall quality of the booths made Pillar the perfect fit for the library’s needs.

The installation process was smooth and efficient. “We were surprised at how quickly the booths were installed,” Brent recalled. Within a few hours, multiple new booths were up and ready for use.

Since their installation, the booths have been in constant use. “Anytime I walk by, they’re typically full,” Brent observed. The booths have proven to be a versatile solution, used by students for remote classes, phone calls, or simply as a quiet space to study. Brent added, “I think they’re just looking for any private space, and these booths provide the answer.”

The feedback from both students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve even seen staff using the booths for calls during the summer,” Brent shared. The library is now considering adding more booths to meet the growing demand.

Looking ahead, ISU is piloting a new program in collaboration with the university’s student affairs office, using two-person phone booths for student counseling and other university-driven programming. “These booths will be used for more formal meetings, like student counseling or financial aid sessions,” Brent explained. This innovative use of phone booths demonstrates their versatility and the library’s commitment to providing valuable resources to its students.

“The need for these booths is only going to increase,” Brent concluded. The Parks Library’s experience with Pillar Booths underscores the importance of adaptable, high-quality solutions in creating spaces that enhance student learning and well-being.