Earlier this year, students from Mount Prospect Academy’s Student Council came together to complete a hands-on community service project: building and installing a Little Free Library in Pike, New Hampshire. Located at the site of the former Pike Library on Route 25, the new structure offers free books, coloring pages, and crayons to anyone passing by. It’s already seen regular use by local families and community members.

This project came out of a larger effort by Student Council to find new ways to contribute both within MPA and in the surrounding area. “We were looking for a community service project,” said Career Life Coach Guy Mitchell, who works closely with the council. “This one felt like something the students could really own from start to finish.”

MPA maintains strong student representation across dorms in its council—usually around 7 or 8 students. After learning about a similar library built by another student for a senior center in Plymouth, the group began planning. Guy downloaded construction plans from the official Little Free Library site, and the students headed to the MPA woodshop in Rumney to begin building under the guidance of instructor Paul Goodman.

Paul made sure the students were hands-on throughout the process. He taught them how to measure properly, use orbital sanders, and assemble the library themselves. Once it was built, it was transported back to campus in Pike for finishing touches. The MPA maintenance team assisted with painting, and the structure was officially registered with Little Free Library as part of their global network.

The team chose to install the library in a high-traffic area on the old Pike Library property, where it’s easily accessible to the public. Students also added small extras like coloring books and crayons to make it more inviting for younger visitors.

Guy noted that one of the goals of the project was to help students gain experience they could speak to in future interviews or job settings. “They were involved in all parts of the process—from planning to building to placing it in the community,” he said.

One student, Colton P., completed the project before discharging in early June. He was named Student of the Month that same month and was featured, alongside classmates Greyson S. and Brian L., in The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case for their work on the project.

This Little Free Library is one of over 200,000 registered around the world—but it’s the first of its kind built by MPA students. It now serves as a small but meaningful part of the community and a visible reminder of what’s possible when students are given a chance to lead, create, and contribute.