JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Have you seen the library’s new ‘birdhouse’ book boxes yet? They bear free goodies as part of a book exchange outlet that is already catching on.
Teton County Library Friends recently purchased, assembled and installed four Little Free Libraries book exchange boxes around town, from which people may take a book as long as they leave a book.
The boxes, which bear a slight resemblance to oversized birdhouses, are part of a worldwide network of more than 70,000 such libraries, fostering the exchange of millions of books each year. The nonprofit Little Free Library was established after founder Todd H. Bol installed the first one in 2009, with the goals of inspiring love of reading, building community, and sparking creativity.
Library volunteer coordinator Maria Hayashida spearheaded the local project she calls a win-win.
“With very little effort, our Little Free Libraries are the delivery system between people who are trying to get rid of books they’ve already enjoyed, and people who need something to read—adding up to a big benefit for the community,” she said.
Volunteers act as stewards for the Little Free Libraries, stocking them with book donations made to the library sorting room, and keeping the boxes and their contents clean and in good working order. The boxes are easily recognized by the Teton County Library Friends logo, and are stocked with books for all ages.
The four locations of the libraries are:
- Aspen Meadows apartments, stewarded by Stephanie, Chris, Nate, Abby, and Alexander Martinez
- Blair Place apartments, stewarded by Melissa Roy
- Russ Garaman Park, stewarded by Max Ludington and Joy Hayashida-Ludington
- Mike Yokel Park, stewarded by Beth and Zoe Eastman and Shannon and Mira Borrego
Hayashida’s work on the project was fostered by Friends board president Lisa Johnson, who was eager to see the libraries come to fruition before the end of her term. She has served on the Friends board for nine years after volunteering at the Alta branch for five years.
Johnson’s son, Max Hammond, helped assemble the boxes. Hayashida also recognized the collaborative support of Aspen Meadows, Blair Place, and Teton County Parks & Recreation.
Fans of the Little Free Library nonprofit can subscribe to its newsletter and search its website for locations of the boxes—many visit the libraries in their travels as a way to keep themselves stocked with reading material. Teton County Library’s boxes are registered with the organization’s website.
