JACKSON, Wyo. — Cool and dark evenings this time of year are the perfect time to curl up with a good book.
The Teton County Library (TCL) is shifting to its school-year hours, now closing at 6 p.m. on Fridays. But hours on Sunday return, with the library opening its doors from 1 to 5 p.m. For those who can’t make it to the library, or anyone interested in a mini adventure, free lending libraries dot the valley, stocked with fiction and nonfiction books, children’s books and Spanish-language books. These take-a-book, leave-a-book boxes serve as an added literacy opportunity for community members, as well as a place to pass on dusty books that have already been read.
“Just getting books out to people is my main thing … to get people to read and to be able to get the books,” TCL volunteer Karin King told Buckrail. “I mean, a lot of them don’t have an opportunity to go to the actual library and get something out of the library, which they then have to return, so it’s kind of neat to have the books just available as you’re shopping for something else.”
Little Free Library (LFL) is a global nonprofit based in Minnesota that was officially established in 2010. LFL runs a database and map showing the locations of little free libraries all over the world; a unique charter number and sign can be purchased for $50, then the owner can set up an account and list the library on LFL’s map.
TCL stewards 11 little free libraries in the Jackson Hole area that appear on the official map. The library’s network of book-exchange boxes has grown from four in 2018 to include a site at the Hoback Market, one at Hungry Jack’s in Wilson, and one at Dornan’s in Moose, along with the eight other strategically placed libraries around Jackson.
A little free library facilitated by the Teton County Library, seen at Mike Yokel Park. Photo: Monica Stout // Buckrail 
The inside of the telephone booth lending library on East Hansen Ave. Photo: Monica Stout // Buckrail 
An independent little library seen near the corner of East Kelly Ave. and Vine St. Photo: Monica Stout // Buckrail
King is the head volunteer for TCL’s little free library program, which is overseen by TCL Volunteer Coordinator Joe Gagnon. Volunteers who sort donations at the library will set aside books for lending boxes, each of which has its own steward volunteer. Gagnon told Buckrail that volunteers spend about 115 hours annually restocking the book-exchange shelves.
King is in charge of maintenance on the mini libraries and performs minor fixes like replacing a door, a hinge or the plexiglass window. She also keeps a bag of books in her car in case she ever comes across an empty book box. The two most popular libraries that always need more books are located at Dornan’s and at Crabtree Corner near Haagen Dazs.
“It’s interesting how some of the community really steps up to fill [the libraries],” King said. She later added: “We try to fill all of them with at least some Spanish books. Some are more tuned toward children’s books; others are just a whole mix. … The three different kinds we have are the kids’ books, both English and Spanish; youth fiction; and regular fiction. But you’ll find that some of the neighbors will fill it up with something that they think somebody else would like.”
A scavenger hunt through East Jackson, downtown Wilson and the Aspens will yield numerous little independent lending boxes that are not on LFL’s website. They can be found near Center for the Arts on South Cache St.; on East Kelly Ave. near South Willow St. and Vine St.; East Hansen Ave. near South King St. and South Willow St.; as well as at Wilson Elementary School and on West Main St./Wilson Square Road.
Near the corner of South Willow St. and East Hansen Ave. stands a very unique lending library run by Chris and Barbara Hoeft. The curious attraction is a replica of a red British telephone booth, and it typically contains books, dog treats, and even school supplies toward the end of summer. The Hoefts told Buckrail the story of its inspiration, which arose when British Telecom began selling off the iconic phone booths for cheap. The logistics of purchasing a real booth and refurbishing didn’t make sense in Jackson, so when Barbara Hoeft retired about four years ago, Chris purchased a replica as a birthday gift.
“I thought that would be a really cool thing to have, and kind of whimsical,” Barbara Hoeft recalled. “But also it would be super practical because it’s big, so you can put a lot of books in there. And I love to read and I love coming upon books — just the serendipity of it.”
Hoeft began by filling the library from her own collection of books, including children’s books she had saved from when she was young. She said that when the book inventory starts to get low, she will put out a call to neighbors and friends, who often drop off books by the box. Hoeft will collect Spanish-language books to place in the booth when she finds them.
When asked what is the most rewarding part, Hoeft said: “Meeting the people and also feeling like other people are meeting each other at the library. … And I know it’s silly, but it makes me happy to think that someone’s opening the door, getting a dog biscuit, and then seeing all of these books. I just love that people are reading. I think that’s probably my favorite part of it, because reading is so important to me, I love that other people love reading and that they have a source.”
Hoeft is angling for a future birthday gift that would complement the lending library: maybe an old ski chairlift bench to sit and leaf through a new-old book.
