Lilliput Libraries started off as the Poems in the Waiting Room (NZ) 2015/16 project. It’s now expanded beyond all expectations. Here we are in 2023 and still we’re growing!
Lilliput Libraries are located on their Guardian’s fence lines and passers-by are welcome to “take a book now, leave a book later.”
The books are free for anyone to take away. You don’t have to become a member of Lilliput Libraries, you don’t need to return the books. But we encourage you to take a book now, return or donate one later. If you’re walking by and see a book that interests you, take it home. Next time you’re passing you may want to return it or pop another book in the Lilliput Library. We’re more than happy if you pass your Lilliput Library book on to someone else. It’s all about the love of reading.
As from March 2017 we are no longer providing Lilliput Libraries for free. If you are interested in becoming a guardian I’m happy to talk to you about suitability and requirements and share our plan. You might like to create and build your own design or recycle a suitable container. If you want your Library to join our Lilliput family, let me know and I’ll give you a number, a box of books to get you started, (if you live in Dunedin) and add your location to our map.
See our facebook page – Lilliput Libraries.
waitingroompoems(at)gmail(d0t)com. Please replace ‘at’ with @ and (dot) with .
Many thanks, Ruth
Lilliput Libraries 
Hi Ruth
I would love to become a guardian of a Lilliput library.
I live in Merchiston St, Andersons Bay, my phone number is 4542263.
Look forward to your reply.
Kind regards
Sue
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Hi Sue -I currently have a waiting list of people interested in becoming Guardians so I’ll add you to the list and be in touch as soon as more libraries are constructed. Thanks for getting in touch – Ruth:-)
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Hi Ruth, loved your story in the ODT. My mother lives at 65 Bedford Street, St Clair a popular walking route to St Clair beach and would just love to become a guardian. If you would like a library in her area, please contact her: Nathlie 4558979.
Thank you.
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Hi,
I have three boxes of children’s books, all in good condition, happy to donate, if wanted.
Thanks.
Lynda
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We’d love them thanks Lynda!
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I live in St Kilda, opposite the Iceskating rink. Lots of foot traffic here. I’d be happiy to join this cause as an avid reader myself.
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Hi Sandy – I’ve run out of funding so I’m not building anymore right now. Will email you – Ruth
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Hi Ruth,
I live in Ocean Grove and will love to become a guardian. I read heaps and always love to pass my books on to others to read. Please get in contact with me on 454 3507
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Hi Ruth congratulations on the success of this fabulous project. A library has popped up outside my house and after I posted photos, a friend inThailand wants to do something similar in Thailand, is there any copywriter issues to consider?
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Hi Rebecca – Dunedin has been wonderfully supportive of this project. I can’t see any issues re starting a similar project elsewhere. I got the idea from a giveaway book stand in my son’s street in Melbourne. Lilliput Libraries is my own name which I would prefer to remain in NZ.
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Thanks Ruth, I will pass that on I love having one by my gate, I’m very excited!
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Hi Ruth
We would like to be guardians. We live at 16 Easther Cresc in Kew, which down a drive of several houses but we could locate it at the street end of the driveway.
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I’ve sent you an email Diana:-) Cheers Ruth
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When or if u like I would love to do this in Palmerston Otago
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Hi im intereseted in Magdala street Tainui.I would love to join in
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I’ll email you with details Sarah:-) Ruth
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Hi Ruth,
My partner and I would like to help do one of these. On Kenmure Rd in Mornington.
Lee.
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I’ll email you with details Lee:-) Ruth
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Thanks 🙂
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Hey! I live on Ashmore st in dunedin and my family and I would absolutely love to have a lilliput library on our fence!
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Hi Georgiah – we’ve got a long waiting list and limited funds for building more. I’ll note your email address and contact you if I ever have any to spare. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth
I am the Manager of the Otago Child care centre, in Ross Street, Roslyn.. We are a not-for-profit centre in a lovely homely villa. We have only just heard about your wonderful libraries and are very keen to be guardians for one of these wonderful boxes. Our children are inveterate readers and I’m sure their families are too. We are also on a road with a lot of passing traffic and have a bus stop near to us too. Hoping to hear from you
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Hi Val – I’ll email you tonight. Cheers Ruth
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Hi I am happy to have a Lilliput library at my place, I live in Roslyn near moana pool. 0274364447
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Hi Graeme, an email is on its way -Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth
Would love to start a Lilliput Library in my area (Kinmont) Mosgiel
Regards
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I’ll email you:-) Cheers Ruth
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If I have books to donate do I just pop in any Lilliput Library or do you have a collection point.
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Hi Sandra – we have a blue book bin at Resene at 172 Crawford St, you could leave them on the front porch at 19 Hunt St, Andersons Bay or we can collect – just whatever is easiest. Many thanks Ruth
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Please add us to the list for a Lilliput Library. We’re situated in the Grand Vista subdivision in Abbotsford – cell 0274950137. Our property boarders a well utilized public walkway so would be an ideal location:). Thanks Suzanne.
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I’ve emailed you Suzanne. Cheers Ruth
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Hello My Sister Tash who is located at 91 Columba Avenue Carlton hill Ph: 5522276 would like to become a guardian for a Lilliput Library can you please add her to the waiting list. Thank you
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Hi Alex – I’ve sent you an email. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth would love to be a Lilliput guardian live in Sawyers Bay, Dunedin live on a walking route up to Reservoir and golf course…….
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I’ve sent you an email Rachel – Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth
Our family would like to become a guardian of a Lilliput Library. We are in Glenleith, just below pineapple track etc. And starting to develop a community garden, so idea would be to put box at bottom of that drive way. Please add us to your list, we are at 21 Fulton Road, Glenleith
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Super idea Ruth! We would love to be a guardian in Palmerston!
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Hi,my wife and I would love to be guardians of a lilliput library
We live on tideswater drive Harwood and lots of people walk past.
There isnt a lilliput library in Harwood and all my neighbours think
Its a great idea.I could easily build and paint a library box based on designs
I have seen on your site.please contact me via email or 0275222479
Many thanks Kevin and Karen
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I’ll email you Kevin. Cheers Ruth
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All I wanted to say was this is the coolest thing ever I love to read and the thought that I can borrow a book and pop one in that I loved for someone else to read is just brilliant ! Thankyou so much !
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Deb, thank you for taking the time to get in touch. We love hearing how well our projects are received. Thank you – Ruth
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Hi Ruth,
I also would like to become a guardian to a LL. My phone number is 4558698 or 0273840530. Please get in touch when you have one available. I so like the idea and have visited one regularly. It certainly brings the community together. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.
KInd regards
Gundula
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Hi Gundula – I’ll be in touch. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth 🙂
Me and my daughter are very keen on doing a LL! Home phone is 039266195
Mary – Ann
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I’ve emailed you Mary-Ann as no one home when I rang. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth
I love this idea and would love to set it up in Cromwell. Our Rotary Club, which I belong to, has a book exchange running over the summer holidays as well as a book sale in June so I think this would be an awesome extension! Can you email me with any info (do you have building plans for the little libraries?) Cheers Neroli
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Hi Neroli – I’ll email you with all the info – Cheers Ruth
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Hello Ruth
Would would be very keen to have a Lilliput library – in Waverley, Kenilworth St. We are very avid readers and love the idea of the L.L!
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Hi Ruth
I am an avid reader and would love to look after a little library. I live in Balmacewen Road and my contact numbers are 4640113 and 027 4581799.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Heidi
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I’ll ring you Heidi -Ruth
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Hi we would be interested in being guardians of a LL. I’m based in Balclutha and my
Contact details are email: heka1@xtra.co.nz.
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I would love to care for a little library. Live at the top end Kenmure Road. Shirley
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Hi Ruth, I visited Dunedin from the UK in December and saw one of your installations in Sawyers Bay. I thought what a fantastic idea. I would love to hear a bit more about how you set this up? Would love to see some in my home town in the UK?
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Hi Ruth – we are in Shiel Hill area and our family would love to become guardians if possible? We are right next to a bus-stop.
ph 4544 161 🙂
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Hi Ruth, Is anyone doing this in Wellington?
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Hi Janet -one of ours was gifted to people in Wellington but I haven’t heard whether it is up and running yet. Apart from that there may be others but just not under the Lilliput Library umbrella:-) Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth, my classmate and I sent an email to you regarding your LIlliput LIbraries. As we would like to make our own, we asked you some questions we were unsure about. Please tell me if the email didn’t send through.
We also wondered if we could some emails of other people who made these libraries because it would be great to get lots of knowledge from experienced Lilliput Libraries makers.
Thank you for your time,
Inspired students from Otumoetai Intermediate School, Dianne,Cameron, Astrid and Cooper.
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Hi Dianne, Cameron, Astrid and Cooper- I just sent a long email to you but it bounced back so not sure why. If you can give me another email address I’ll send you the plans and leaflet info. Here’s what I said in the email:
I’ve checked through the last three months worth of emails and there’s no sign of one from you. I always get back to people promptly so I fear it’s gone astray. Do you want to resend it?
We had a group of retired men who made over 80 Lilliput Libraries for us – I’ve attached the plan they worked from. They’re rather tired of making them now so if anyone is looking for a Lilliput Library I just send them this plan to build from.
We used perspex in the front of all the Lilliputs as it’s safer than glass. The guys left the peelable covering on the perspex so when the artists worked on the Lilliputs it didn’t matter if paint got all over the cover. Then when the artwork was finished we unscrewed the perspex, unpeeled the covers from both sides and then rescrewed the perspex in.
We applied an undercoat first and then most of the artists used Resene test pots. It can get pretty wet and windy in Dunedin so making the Lilliputs waterproof was really important.
Th other thing we did was check with the council re permission. For Dunedin they said the Lilliputs had to be on the Guardian’s fenceline or property and we couldn’t have any advertising on them. I think every council will have different rules.
I’ve also attached my master copy of a leaflet which we place in the Lilliputs. Not everyone coming across a Lilliput would know what it’s all about:-) If you print a bundle of these you could bulldog clip them together and then attach them to a plastic self adhesive hook in the Lilliput. If they’re just left lying in the Lilliput they fly away whenever the door is opened.
I’m trying hard to think of anything else you might want to know:-) It’s good to have the words Lilliput Library painted on the front – just so it’s clear to passers by.
I’m happy to answer any more questions you might have.
Cheery cheers
Ruth Arnison
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Hi Ruth, we sent another email from Cameron’s account, please tell me if that didn’t send through again. Thank you so much for your advice, we really appreciate it. Will send you pictures when we are building them and when they are finished. Thank you so much for your time, Dianne, Cameron, Astrid and Cooper.
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Hi Dianne, Cameron, Astrid and Cooper – sorry peoples. No email has arrived. Now I’m feeling inquisitive wondering what your questions were:-) I’ll try and send through the plans tonight to your teacher. I had a meeting at the University today as some of their IT students are really keen to build an app so families can take themselves on a Lilliput Library tour! I’ll let you know if it works out. The children in one class at Port Chalmers School went to visit the shed where they made the Lilliputs. Their teacher aide painted it and every child in the class is pictured on the Lilliput. They made a video and also wrote a song. When their Lilliput was officially opened all the parents came along, I got an invite too, and our local TV crew came along and filmed it.
Cheery cheers for now
Ruth
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Hello Cooper, Diane, Astrid and Cameron – I’ve emailed all the answers to your teacher. If you have any more questions just let me know:-) And cheery cheers back to you – Ruth.
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Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your reply,
I will also put my teacher’s email address at the bottom of the comment. If you don’t mind, some of our classmates would like to ask some questions.
`
What sort of designs look good?
What type of wood did you use?
What was the cost involved?
What is the average size of the boxes?
What do you use to waterproof them?
What is the most popular genre of books?
What does being a guardian entail? How does it actually work?
How frequently are the boxes checked up on?
Does anyone ‘steal’ the books? Eg. if you load a library up – has it ever been completely emptied. Any issues with vandalising?
What if people don’t return the books?
Should they be mounted on posts or just flat on the ground?
How do you get the books? Manage them?
Thank you so much for your time and support, we will totally keep in touch with you and send you pictures and videos of our progress.
kfarthing@otuinter.school.nz
Cheery Cheers,
Dianne, Cooper, Astrid and Cameron
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I hace always dreamt doinf this from when i first saw this over 4 years ago but how much would does it cost? Can i get in your list?
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Hi Christine – I no longer supply the Lilliput Libraries. I’m happy to share my plans or you could come up with your own design. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth. My daughter is very keen to make a library and put it on our fence, and I’m happy to do this at our own cost. Is this OK with you? Would like to add it to your list.
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Sure, this would be fantastic. Let me know when it’s on site, a photo would be great, and I’ll add you to our LL family with a number. Cheers Ruth
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Good Morning Ruth, We are interested in putting a library on our fence at Grants Braes Kindergarten. We will fund the build and installation ourselves. Are we able to add our location to the map once we have the library installed.
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Definitely – just let me know when it’s finished and I’ll give you a LL number and pop you on the map. I think I’ve already sent the kindy our plans but let me know if you would like them again. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth, I am from Sydney and come over three times a year to visit grandchildren. I have seen your Lilliput Libraries around and am most impressed with the idea. I belong to the East Hills Men’s Shed. It has been suggested that book boxes such as yours would be a great project. I told them that next time I am here in NZ I will look further into it.I see by your comments that you have plans. Would you be able to send me a copy please?
Bruce Allen
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Hi am interested on being a guardian. Would be happy to have husband build our own. I am in christchurch palmers rd. Please email me with how to go about connecting with lilliput libraries. Thanks.😊
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Hi, how can I have a Lilliput library in Gisborne, North Island. Many thanks, Gaelene
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Hi Gaelene, I’ve emailed you details. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth
We would love to have a library at our gate is it possible to send the plans so we can build one.
Thanks
Andrea
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Will do Andrea. I’ll email you later this evening. Cheers Ruth
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Greetings from Newark, NJ, where spring has sprung, 5,000 cherry blossoms are blooming in our Branch Brook Park, and the “Sopranos” prequel movie named (what else?) “Newark” is going to be shot soon.
I have just mailed you $20US as my contribution to Lilliput Libraries to help support New Zealand’s efforts to recover from the worst horror in its history (in general) and your mission (in particular).
To avoid giving away the plot of the letter, I won’t repeat its contents, but it’s highly supportive.
I will say this…I am still boggled by this shooting…not just by the location (New Zealand), but the sheer cruelty of it. When I saw it on TV on a Friday morning here, I had to call in sick.
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Hi I would like to start one. But just wondering if I need permission from council to place a library box on my…(on the grass area)?
Thank you
Vivian
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Hi Vivian, it will depend on your local council. What area of NZ do you live in? Cheers Ruth
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Hi there I understand that you are no longer making libraries in this project. But if we constructed one, similar to other designs I see, would we need to get permission from the council or is there an understanding that this is ok? We are in Duckworth St. Thank you Deirdre
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Hi Deidre – the DCC are happy with them as long as they remain on your fenceline and they don’t have any advertising on them. Email me at waitingroompoems@gmail.com if you would like a copy of our plans and other info. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Deidre- the DCC are fine with the LLs as long as they remain on the fenceline and don’t have advertising on them. If you would like plans and other info send me an email to waitingroompoems@gmail.com. Cheers Ruth
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Hi Ruth. My Dad and I would like to be the guardians of a Lilliput Library. I am happy to build this library which could sit outside his unit in Nova Scotia Drive, Waipu, Northland. I grew up in Dunedin and have fond memories of visiting the children’s library which had such lovely paintings everywhere. I think these mini libraries continue that tradition. We are a long way from Dunedin now but would love to encourage reading in our community. Kind regards, Karen Williams
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