Harborfields Public Library (“HPL”), in Long Island, New York, stands as a vibrant testament to the important role of public libraries in modern communities. Established in 1970, HPL began as a traveling “bookmobile”. HPL moved to its own dedicated building in 1976, and it has continued to evolve in that same space through expansion and renovation. Catering to approximately 800 visitors daily, HPL has transcended the traditional role of a library and has morphed into a dynamic community center. This transformation is not just physical but also conceptual, as libraries nationwide redefine themselves as communal hubs for shared experiences and connection. Yet, in this age of remote work, online education, and homework that requires a computer, the need for quiet, focused spaces remains paramount. The lightbulb went off for HPL’s Director, Ryan Athanas, when he saw a phone booth in a university library during a college visit. Ryan realized that phone booths could provide HPL with individual quiet spaces while preserving the building’s “quiet rooms” for multi-person meetings and projects.

Ryan prioritized six criteria in his initial search for the best phone booths for HPL: (1) ventilation; (2) customizability (specifically the ability to put custom design on the door honoring the Friends of the Harborfields Public Library, a group that agreed to sponsor HPL’s phone booth purchases ); (3) value, defined as a good balance between build quality and affordability; (4) aesthetics; (5) accessibility for all age groups; and (6) easy installation. Ryan reached out to a few different phone booth companies that seemed like they would be able to meet those criteria, and he was impressed by Pillar’s responsiveness and willingness to work with HPL on the customizations. In speaking with the Pillar team, Ryan realized that Pillar Booths fit all of his criteria perfectly.

* Ventilation: Most other phone booths have two fans in the ceiling that pull air through passive vents in the floor. Pillar’s phone booths have four fans – two in the ceiling and two in the floor – that replace all of the air within the booth more than once every minute.

* Customizability: Pillar was happy to help HPL honor the sponsors with custom decals on the phone booth doors.

* Value: Pillar Booths hold a unique spot in the phone booth market, striking a fine balance between cost and quality.

* Aesthetics: With multiple external and internal color combinations, the Pillar Booth is designed to look great in any environment and works very well with HPL’s traditional aesthetic.

* Inclusivity: HPL serves a broad community across children, teens, adults, and seniors. Pillar’s height adjustable desk makes the booth functional for all relevant age groups.

* Installation: The ease of installation and the ability to move Pillar Booths to adapt to evolving space needs was a big selling point.