Zoe Cotton, a junior at Carbon Career & Technical Institute, is training for a future career in carpentry.

But she’s also an avid reader with a shelf full of books and dreams of opening her own library.

“I love books,” she said. “Every time I go into a bookstore, there’s no walking out without one.”

Earlier this year, her carpentry instructor Jeff Hazelton approached her with a project which was tailor-made for her two passions.

The Dimmick Memorial Library in Jim Thorpe was looking for someone to build a “little free library,” a small structure to house a handful of books for families to pick up on the go.

“Hazelton asked me if I wanted to do it, and I said ‘sure,’ ” she said.

Over the past few months, Cotton put about 20 hours into building the library, which resembles a dollhouse in size and form.

Kara Edmonds, Dimmick Memorial Library director, recently explained the concept to Jim Thorpe Borough Council.

“The idea is that we would stock it with books, many of which have already been donated, and people could come and grab a book. When they finish the book, they can bring it back and even put their own books in to help keep the supply up. It would become like a little book exchange.”

Edmonds said the idea is becoming popular around the country and she is excited to see it come to Jim Thorpe.

“It helps to build neighborhood pride and of course supports children’s literacy,” Edmonds said. “They’re springing up all over the country, and it will be great to see one here.”

When she got the assignment to build the library, Cotton started by researching designs online. She cut and stained plywood and built a shingled roof out of cedar shakes. The hardest part, she said, was cutting out numerous windows with a jigsaw without cracking the plywood.

It helped her accomplish some of the tasks which are necessary to graduate from the carpentry program.

While there are a lot more boys than girls in the program, Cotton said they are all treated the same.

“We all treat each other the same way, we all love each other. We call it our carpentry family,” she said.

The library is currently being housed at CCTI while the borough works out the exact location and an installation date is determined.

Councilman John McGuire, who is also on the Dimmick board, said the Memorial Park little library is hopefully the first of several locations around the area. He commended the borough for supporting the idea.

“I think it’s another great way to support the Dimmick,” McGuire said. “Each little library has a steward who looks after it and checks it from time to time to make sure it’s in good condition. I’m volunteering to be that guy for the Memorial Park location.”

Cotton said she hopes that her library is filled with children’s books from authors like Eric Carle and Dr. Seuss.

“I hope the kids appreciate it. I could just see moms taking their kids for a walk and picking out a book for free,” she said.

Edmonds said the goal is to have a variety of genres in the little library, but particularly hopes children take advantage of it.

“I think once the kids know it is there, they will take great pride in not only reading the books already there, but offering up their own books once they outgrow them,” she said.

Jim Thorpe’s building committee plans to discuss the library’s location within the park at an upcoming meeting.