Asheville -- September 22, 2026: Pack Memorial Library is preparing to offer patrons an extra level of quiet. The downtown Asheville branch has announced a series of upcoming interior updates, highlighted by the addition of noise-canceling personal study pods slated to arrive this winter.
The new enclosed study spaces will be installed along the far wall of the library’s main level. Designed to meet the evolving needs of remote workers, students, and researchers, the units will feature closable doors to block out ambient floor noise and create dedicated zones for deep focus.
According to library staff, the addition directly answers regular feedback from local visitors seeking quiet, private spots to take calls or work on intensive projects without distraction.
Floor Plan Adjustments Underway
To prepare for the arrival of the pods, staff members have already begun reorganizing parts of the main floor:
Magazine Relocation: The wall where the pods will sit previously housed back issues of magazines, which have now been integrated into nearby general shelving.
Periodicals & Browsing: Current magazine issues have been shifted directly in front of Bookends, the library’s volunteer-run used bookstore.
Expanded Seating: Several new armchairs have been placed in the periodicals area, with additional comfortable reading corners planned across the main level in the coming months.
The project reflects a broader effort across public library systems to adapt traditional open layouts for both community engagement and private study.
Pack Memorial Library, located at 67 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville, serves as the central hub of the Buncombe County Public Library System.