Local children’s author Diane Zahler offers Hetty Free Library to entertain and educate

WASSAIC — Children’s author Diane Zahler is accustomed to using the written word as a means to inform and entertain others. After all, she’s been a writer for nearly 35 years, having written text books early in her career (and continuing to do so) and then penning half a dozen children’s novels, with two more coming out next year. Now she and her 28 year old son, Ben, who works in publishing and lived in the Bronx before moving back with his mom and dad during the coronavirus pandemic, have taken on a new project. 

It should be no surprise, considering the literary bent of this family, that it has to do with books. The two have set up a Little Library at the end of their home’s rather long driveway, to share their treasure trove of books with the community during this especially difficult time. They’ve named it the Hetty Free Library.

“Well, at any time, but at times like these more than any other time, I think books are an escape,” said Zahler, adding that, “‘Hetty’ is my son’s word; it contains a multitude of meanings…  [With books] you can go someplace else in your mind. You don’t have to be as aware of where you are. You can go someplace else and don’t have to be in the real world.”

That can be especially helpful now, she said, as people struggle to deal with the hardships of living through the current health crisis — from dealing with sickness and death to job loss and financial struggles. Books can provide a much-needed escape, said Zahler.

“Especially for kids, the access to books they would have if they had school or could go to the public library, I hope to make up for that,” she said. “For me the most important thing in the world is to have kids reading; it’s just absolutely vital.”

That’s why, when she and her son discovered the website, www.littlefreelibrary.org, they decided to order “a sort of house-on-a-pole that is full of books for the taking.” They painted it “white with a bright red roof and stenciled hummingbirds on its side. It’s really fun.”

She said that she had a great time putting it together with Ben, though she conceded he did most of the work on what was admittedly a pre-assembled kit. 

“We basically painted it, then had to put it on a stand,” said Zahler. “There were pre-drilled screw holes, and we had to get the post from the local hardware store and dig an 18-inch hole and attach it to the post. My son did most of the work. It was really fun… from the time we got it to when we put it up took four to five days, because the paint had to dry and we had to do the stencils and mow down the weeds and put stuff down so it looks welcoming.”

The whole project cost about $400, with shipping taking up most of the expense. To register the Little Library with the official website, which would then list it with a global register and post it on a worldwide map, would cost an annual fee, which Zahler said she plans to do at some point. When she does, Little Library will send her an official plaque to install near the structure.

The author said she’s stocked the wooden structure with mostly children’s books, which isn’t surprising, though there are other great reads to find inside as well. Her husband donated some classics, including “The Scarlet Letter,” and some others sure to please. The Little Library fits about 30 books inside, estimated Zahler, who included some of her own works, geared toward middle-schoolers ages 8 to 12. Those include great reads (personally recommended) like “The Thirteenth Princess,” “Baker’s Magic” and “Princess of the Wild Swans.”

“They’re free,” said the author of all the books inside the Hetty Free Library outside her driveway. “Take a book is basically the policy. You can leave a book if you want to, but you don’t have to. I have an attic full, so I can replace them for years to come.”

To find the Hetty Free Library, go to 349 South Amenia Road in Wassaic, but be careful. As Zahler warned, “traffic does go by pretty fast on this road, faster than it should.” 

She also urged drivers to make sure to pull in fully to the driveway before stopping and getting out — carefully — to grab a book.