SCRANTON, Pa. — A few cracked panes of glass help tell the story of a place that's held hundreds of its own.
"Parents come bringing their kids and then college kids at all hours of the night, two in the morning, they were here getting books," said John Hart III.
The Hart Free Library has stood along this section of Morel Street in Scranton since 2013.
"My dad had a huge ceremony with a former mayor. I think two former mayors here to do a ribbon-cutting ceremony."
The replica British-style phone booth was built by John Hart III's father after his stepmother heard of the nonprofit "Little Free Library."
Since then, Hart says it's served the local community and beyond.
"We've even seen newlyweds and, like a bride in her gown here, taking a photo up front, which I thought was bizarre but fantastic. At the same time," said Hart.
But just like the spines of the books inside, the wooden phone booth was showing its age.
After serving the local community for more than a decade, the original Hart Free Library had to be closed after it had fallen into disrepair. But when one door closes or, in this case, is screwed shut, another one must open.
"The first one that we had, we put a lantern on the outside just to help people see at night, so they didn’t trip over anything," said Hart. "This one's actually all lit up from the inside."
Half a block up, the newest version of the library sits on the corner of North Washington and Morel Street.
And although he is no longer here to see it, Hart says it's built to the specs and with metal that his father originally planned for.
"This one I think certainly, hits home as to what he was looking to do," said Hart. "I do know that this one is gonna withstand the test of time for sure."
The new Hart Free Library plans to reopen in May of next year.