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Polk County residents have found the new study rooms at the Columbus and Saluda libraries to be quite useful.

Residents have requested these types of rooms in recent years, as an increasing number of residents need private space with strong internet connections for work and study.

To accommodate these requests, six study rooms have been opened – four in Columbus and two in Saluda. Each location also has a study room that includes children’s activities to help them entertain themselves while their parent or guardian works. Multi-sensory items are also included for those with sensory processing differences.

Polk County Libraries received a grant to cover 75 percent of the project’s cost. This grant is made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-253645-OLS-23).

The Friends of the Libraries graciously matched the remaining 25% to make the project possible. Funding totaled $94,235 at no cost to the county.

Since opening to patrons in December, there have been more than 900 reservations. 

Room features include skylights, adjustable LED lighting, soundproof construction, and power/USB adapters. The small rooms have height adjustable tables for those who prefer to stand while they work. Large rooms can fit up to four people, small rooms can fit two.

Any room can be reserved ahead of time online at https://polklibrary.org/rooms/. No library card is required to reserve a room.