From Historic Library to Modern Hub: How Nicholas P. Sims Library Makes Space for Focus

For over 120 years, Nicholas P. Sims Library has served as a community resource in Waxahachie, Texas. Its vision—to help build “healthy families, vibrant neighborhoods, and thriving businesses”—reflects a role that goes well beyond books.

Today, that means adapting the library’s spaces to support how people live, work, learn, and connect. Sometimes, that means making room for a little more privacy. The challenge? Doing that inside a historic building that has looked much the same since it opened in 1905.

“When you walk in, it’s like walking back in time,” says Jennifer Graf, Library Director. The building’s original hardwood and marble give it plenty of character—and plenty of acoustical challenges when the library is busy.

“We’re not a quiet library anymore, and we’re proud of that,” Graf says.

Rather than trying to turn back the clock, the library is focused on evolving with its community and making the most of the space it already has.

“Our goal is to figure out how our patrons are using the space and then make it better for them,” Graf says.

Making space for modern needs

Nicholas P. Sims Library has evolved into a true community resource. In addition to traditional library services, it hosts programming and networking events and increasingly supports patrons who need to work or study remotely. But the staff noticed a growing need for something they didn’t have enough of: private, distraction-free space.

Patrons looking for a quieter place to study or work were sometimes directed to the historical archives, one of the quieter areas of the library. But that solution wasn’t ideal as it was next to the teen area—which became active and loud after school— and wasn’t designed to serve as a dedicated private workspace.

“We’re very much a historical hub for our community,” says Assistant Director Elias Carreon. “But we’re always trying to find solutions to modern problems.”

The challenge was finding a privacy solution that would work inside the historic building without requiring expensive construction or renovation. The library applied for funding and received a grant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. That funding made it possible to add dedicated privacy spaces without undertaking a major—and costly—renovation.

“Having the funds available to add privacy in the space we have made sense to us,” says Graf. “We could address the need without changing our footprint.”

Accessibility was part of the plan

As the team evaluated privacy solutions, accessibility was a key consideration. Carreon looked at several options before choosing Ava Pods (originally purchased as TalkBox, prior to its acquisition by Mamava and subsequent rebrand to Ava Pods). He purchased one ADA-compatible Studio—attractive as its unique wheelchair-accessible design didn’t require a ramp—and a two-person Double.

“The large wheelchair-accessible pod was really important because we have patrons who use wheelchairs and walkers,” says Carreon. “We wanted to be able to offer this benefit on top of our other library services.”

More than a quiet study room

The library initially knew patrons wanted a quieter place to study (the library refers to them as “Study Pods), but what staff didn’t anticipate was just how many different needs the pods would serve.

“I’ve been surprised that the Studio has been the most popular,” says Graf. “Studying is the biggest need, but people have been using [the pods] for work, virtual meetings, online classes, and now telehealth.”

The feedback has been especially positive from regular users. Nurses studying for exams, for example, previously worked at a large shared table. Now they have a private place to concentrate.

“The regulars were like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is so much better. I’m so glad you did it’,’” Carreon says.

Patrons have also shared their appreciation for the pods’ adjustable lighting and fans, which help make the space comfortable for longer periods of focused work.

The library does have a time limit for pod reservations, but Graf says patrons frequently request additional time and may spend hours studying or working inside. The result has been more than a solution to the library’s noise challenge. It has created a flexible resource for needs the staff hadn’t initially recognized.

“It wasn’t just for a quiet study spot,” says Graf. “There were other needs that we just hadn’t realized were needs.”

Supporting the whole community

The impact has extended beyond regular library patrons, too. “It did solve our noise-level problem,” says Graf. “But I’ve also heard stories from patrons about having out-of-town family visiting who needed a quiet place to work, and they came to our library.”

That flexibility reflects how the library sees its role in the community: not simply as a place to access books and information, but as shared infrastructure that can adapt to the people who use it.

A low-impact privacy solution for a historic space

For Nicholas P. Sims Library, adding privacy pods didn’t require changing the character of its historic building or taking on a major construction project. The pods gave the library a way to add capacity within the space it already had—and to respond to a need that continues to evolve.

From studying and remote work to virtual meetings, online classes, and telehealth, the pods have become a flexible part of the library’s modern infrastructure. And from the administrative side, the procurement process was easy and straightforward.

“Everything has been seamless,” says Graf. “For every email or question I had, I had everything I needed within an hour. Customer service has been top-notch.”

The installation was equally simple.

“The install option was great,” says Carreon. “It was zero headache and worth it,” adds Graf.

The privacy pods helped solve the noise problem, but they also help the library continue to fulfill its role as a community resource—creating space for people to study, work, learn, access care, and connect. In a building that has served Waxahachie for more than 120 years, that’s what evolution looks like: preserving what makes the library special while making room for what the community needs next.