As evenings grow cooler in Jackson, Wyoming, the Teton County Library (TCL) is encouraging residents to curl up with a good book by expanding its Little Free Library program. The library has shifted to school‑year hours, closing at 6 p.m. on Fridays and reopening on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., but for those who cannot make it to the main branch, a growing network of take‑a‑book, leave‑a‑book boxes provides a convenient alternative.
Volunteer‑driven book exchange
“Just getting books out to people is my main thing … to get people to read and to be able to get the books,” says TCL volunteer Karin King. King notes that many community members lack easy access to the library’s physical location, making the free‑standing boxes a vital resource.
Little Free Library (LFL), a nonprofit founded in Minnesota in 2010, supplies a searchable map of participating boxes worldwide. Each box receives a unique charter number and a sign for a $50 fee, after which owners can list their location on LFL’s map.
Eleven boxes across the valley
Today TCL oversees eleven Little Free Library boxes in the Jackson Hole area. The network has grown from four boxes in 2018 to include new sites at the Hoback Market, Hungry Jack’s in Wilson, and Dornan’s in Moose, along with eight other strategically placed locations throughout Jackson.
Volunteer coordinator Joe Gagnon reports that volunteers collectively spend about 115 hours each year restocking the shelves. King, the program’s head volunteer, handles routine maintenance such as replacing doors, hinges or plexiglass windows, and even keeps a bag of books in her car for quick replenishment.
Diverse collections for all ages
The two most frequented boxes—located at Dornan’s and at Crabtree Corner near Haagen‑Dazs—regularly need new titles. King explains that the collections are deliberately varied: “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.”
Beyond the official LFL sites, a scavenger hunt through East Jackson, downtown Wilson and the Aspens reveals additional independent lending boxes not listed on the LFL map. These can be found near the Center for the Arts on South Cache Street, on East Kelly Avenue near South Willow Street and Vine Street, on East Hansen Avenue near South King Street and South Willow Street, at Wilson Elementary School, and on West Main Street/Wilson Square Road.
Creative community boxes
One especially whimsical box stands at the corner of South Willow Street and East Hansen Avenue. Run by Chris and Barbara Hoeft, the box is housed in a replica of a red British telephone booth. “I thought that would be a really cool thing to have, and kind of whimsical,” Barbara recalls. The booth also holds dog treats and occasional school supplies, adding a playful touch to the reading experience.
Barbara Hoeft began the collection with books from her own childhood library and now relies on neighbors to donate titles when supplies run low. She actively seeks Spanish‑language books to broaden the booth’s appeal.
Why it matters
For volunteers like King and the Hoefts, the Little Free Library program is more than a book swap; it’s a way to strengthen community bonds and promote literacy in a region where families often juggle work, school and outdoor pursuits. “Meeting the people and also feeling like other people are meeting each other at the library… it makes me happy to think that someone’s opening the door, getting a dog biscuit, and then seeing all of these books,” says Barbara.
As fall settles in, the TCL volunteers encourage Jackson residents to visit the nearest box, donate a gently used book, or simply enjoy the serendipity of finding a new story while running errands. The program’s continued growth reflects the town’s commitment to family‑friendly, faith‑grounded community initiatives that nurture both mind and spirit.
Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.
