Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lakeview Public Library is preparing to add individual and group study pods, giving students, professionals and other patrons private spaces to work without leaving the community.
The prefabricated pods are expected to be installed Sept. 16. Designed much like phone booths, they will provide secluded spaces where patrons can study, take part in virtual meetings, make calls or take tests.
For Lakeview resident Lynn Singleton and her daughter, Leah, the pods represent more than a library improvement. They are the result of community members identifying a need and advocating for a solution.
“A lot of people in this town are pursuing higher education,” Leah said, “and I don’t think it’s right for us to have to travel outside of our town to go to different libraries.”
Her mother first brought the idea to the attention of library board President Lisa Ortiz, and later discussed it with the facility’s director, Camina Raphael-Lubin. She eventually contacted Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages as well, explaining how the addition could benefit students and other residents.
The effort ultimately led to two Community Revitalization Program grants, totaling $145,500, funding for the project. The library has ordered the pods, and because they are prefabricated, it will be connected to the library’s power system.
“If you see something, say something — closed mouths don’t get fed,” Lynn Singleton said. “We saw that there was a need. We spoke about it. They heard us, they worked on it and they got it done — and that’s beautiful.”
Raphael-Lubin said the pods had been under consideration for some time. As more patrons sought quiet spaces to study, the library recognized the value of adding them. The project was not initially included in the 2026 library budget, but the grant made it possible to move forward, and additionally bring in a video monitoring system and cameras.
“I’m very excited that it will bring our patrons back, and for the patrons that do come in and study, it will be like just a little secluded place for them,” Raphael-Lubin said.
The new spaces are expected to benefit a wide range of library users. Students will be able to work independently or in small groups, while patrons who need to conduct interviews or attend virtual meetings will have private spaces available. The pods will also include electrical outlets for laptops and other devices.
For Leah Singleton, a 27-year-old, third-year medical student at Ross University School of Medicine in Bridgetown, Barbados, the pods could make a significant difference. During the beginning of the American study-portion of her medical training, she has searched for suitable places to study in several nearby libraries. With her clinical rotations, which can run from early morning until evening, having a study space close to home will be a much-needed convenience.
Singleton is considering a career in either internal medicine or neurology. “It’s nice that now that I’m in clinical rotations, I can run to a nearby library and study, and then make my way back home,” she said. “I’m just excited for the convenience of it all and to be close to home.”
Singleton believes that for Lakeview residents pursuing higher education, the library should be a comfortable and welcoming place to learn.
The project also reflects a broader goal of strengthening the relationship between the library and the community. Library officials say they hope the pods will encourage patrons who have gone elsewhere for study space to return.
“I am glad to hear that the resources we secured will have a direct, positive impact upon the daily lives of our neighbors, and thank the Lakeview community for embracing this concept,” Solages wrote.
Lynn Singleton said she was proud that the community played a role in making the project happen. Having lived in Lakeview for six decades, she sees the pods as an example of what can happen when residents speak up about a need and local institutions listen.
