HANOVER — Using tampers, post-hole diggers, a steel pole, and even their hands, seven Congo Craftsmen dug 2.5-foot holes to install three “Little Free Libraries” they built this winter in Bob Iles’ Bethel garage.

Instead of their usual Monday morning in-the-garage workday, they traveled out of town on May 5 to erect the libraries outside the Lower Sunday River School in Newry, and on the library lawns in Woodstock and Hanover.

Handiwork and heart are central to the work of Bethel’s Congo Craftsmen, who have built trail kiosks, library shelving, benches, tables, and more for Bethel-area nonprofits. Their first project, in 2005, was constructing card holders for pews at The West Parish Congregational Church, where they were all congregants – hence the name “Congo.” These days, religious affiliation isn’t required; you could be an atheist and join. Or, as newbie Steve Radway put it, “my wife went to a craft group with Bob’s wife and somehow I got volunteered.”

Iles said the request for the three library boxes began when Bethel Library Director Kelcey Arciga asked if they could make a Little Library for Newry’s residents who have access to the Bethel Library but don’t have a library of their own. Iles then asked Woodstock Library Director Pat Little if she’d like one. The timing was ideal – Woodstock had been considering buying one. Finally, one of the Craftsmen, a Hanover resident and library board member, confirmed they’d like one there, too.

Global movement

The Little Free Library movement began in 2009 when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a miniature one-room schoolhouse filled with books to honor his late mother, a teacher and book lover. The concept – “Take a book, share a book” – took off globally. As of 2022, more than 150,000 Little Free Libraries exist in over 120 countries.

Fittingly, one of the new library locations at the Lower Sunday River School –

a preserved one-room schoolhouse in Newry – echoes Bol’s original idea.

Iles said all of the Congo Craftsmen’s work supports nonprofits, so they always aim to build as economically as possible. They were especially grateful to Beth Allen of Bethel, who donated enough gently used plywood to complete all three libraries with minimal additional cost.

The craftspeople behind the builds are Iles, Jim Aloisio, Jeff Martin, Jim Chandler, Jim List, Irv Robinson, Richard Decarolis, Steve Lovejoy, and Steve Radway.

Their efforts have added three new dots to the global Little Free Library map – and countless opportunities for readers to discover their next great book.