How many days does it take to complete a 42,000-piece puzzle?
Bangor Public Library staff are hoping 12, if enough community members pitch in to finish a seven-section puzzle showing world landmarks that was donated by a library patron. That’s how long the library is dedicating its third floor lecture hall to building the enormous puzzle.
When Melissa Bryant read about the challenge in the Bangor Public Library’s newsletter, they knew they had to get in on it.
“We only have 12 days to get this done. So we can really use the help,” they said. Bryant was one of three dedicated puzzlers at the library Wednesday afternoon during a winter storm.
The jigsaw puzzle, made by Spanish puzzle manufacturer Educa, retails for more than $500 online. Its seven panels depict an array of global landmarks and measure 5 feet high and more than 21 feet across when put together.
While the library already has a puzzle swap shelf where patrons can take and leave puzzles, when staff saw the massive puzzle that was donated they decided to turn it into a community event. Anyone can work on it during library hours between Jan. 5 and Jan. 17.
About 30 people came in on Monday, the first day of the challenge, according to Shavaun Rigler, the library’s director of development and public relations.
The challenge will run until Jan. 17. Rigler said she wasn’t sure yet what the library would do with the puzzle after the deadline.
Ranger Langdon, who was working on the puzzle Wednesday, suggested that the puzzle be split up, with sections sent to other libraries.
Bryant, a local author and content creator who goes by the pen name Hazel Domain, posted a video about the puzzle on TikTok this week. It garnered more than 140,000 views and numerous comments from people around the world asking if Bangor could send the puzzle to their libraries next.
The library is interested to hear from community members who have ideas about what they should do with the puzzle in the future, Rigler said.