Stay and read street library & bench

NJ_at_Home

🖼️

The project:

Stay and Read Street Library & Bench

My lady had wanted a street library for some time so I decided to make one for her birthday. I wanted to make not only a street library but also a place for people to stop and read for a while.

The Library is mounted to the bench and the arm rests are wide so you can put a book on them. The left hand arm rest has a long curve cut into it to allow the Library door to swing open.

The library door is held closed with magnets and the whole thing has been protected from the elements with outdoor paint & varnish. The back is angled for comfort and the back legs have extentions to make the whole thing super stable.

We put it outside our place and it has become a feature of our neighbourhood as people are regularly stopping by to sit and read or just see whats new in the library and swap a book or two.

Recently there has been games and puzzles deposited and exchanged in the library. It has been a fantastic hit on our street :)

- Materials:

1. Plywood & other timber.
   1. Plywood: https://www.bunnings.com.au/1200-x-1198mm-12mm-plywood-pine-premium-bc-grade_p0390211
2. Plexiglass for the door window.
3. Outdoor Paint & undercoat.
   1. Paint: https://www.bunnings.com.au/taubmans-1l-white-semi-gloss-all-weather-exterior-paint_p0079552
   2. Undercoat: https://www.bunnings.com.au/zinsser-1l-white-bulls-eye-primer-undercoat-sealer-and-stain-blocker_p1579690
4. Outdoor varnish.
   1. Varnish: https://www.bunnings.com.au/cabot-s-1l-satin-water-based-exterior-clear_p0395005
5. Screws and a little door knob.
   1. Screws: https://www.bunnings.com.au/kreg-2-51mm-coarse-thread-pocket-screws-50-pack_p0202882
   2. Door Knob: https://www.bunnings.com.au/prestige-35mm-p20-raw-pine-mushroom-knob_p4028210

- Tools:

We used:

1. Saws & Planer
   1. Circular Saw: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-165mm-circular-saw-r18cs-0-skin-only_p6210595
   2. Mitre Saw: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-1200w-210mm-compound-mitre-saw_p6210392
   3. Planer: https://www.bunnings.com.au/dewalt-330mm-1800w-corded-thicknesser-dw735-xe_p6260419
2. Drills & Drivers
   1. Drill: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-drill-driver-starter-kit-r18dd22_p0715241
   2. Impact Driver: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-hp-brushless-impact-driver-tool-only_p0919290
   3. Pocket Hole Jig: https://www.bunnings.com.au/kreg-pocket-hole-jig-320_p0202875
3. Sanding & Routing
   1. Sander: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-300w-125mm-orbital-sander_p6210549
   2. Trim Router: https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-trim-router-r18tr2-0-skin-only_p6210769
4. Hammer & Nails.

- Step 1:

This project is really just 2 wooden rectangles with slats on top attached to each other with wooden post legs. Where the legs go past the seat base the arm rests attach making it ridgid.

The first thing you want to do is mesure the height of a chair you find comfortable. That is going to be your seat base hieght.

The back rest can be angled anywhere from 15 - 5 degrees, again based on your comfort. I went with 10 degrees.

You can make the bench as long or short as you like. Mine is long enough for 2 adults and a child to sit comfortably.

Once you have that you can start cutting the timber to length.

- Step 2:

Dimension your lumber.

Run everything through the planer to get your thickness.

Sand it to about 80 grit.

- Step 3:

The Seat

Lay them out in a rectangle 2 long and 2 short timbers. Glue and screw together with pocket holes and screws.

Cut the timber slats to length and nail them in.

- Step 4:

The legs

Measure and cut the legs, keeping in mind the back legs will be the back support as well.

Sand them to 80 grit.

- Step 5:

The back rest

Same as the seat base, Lay them out in a rectangle and glue and screw together.

Cut the slats to length and nail them in.

- Step 6:

Bench assembly

Using clamps and screws attach the legs to the bench seat and then the back rest to the back legs.

Attach the arm rests.

Sand everything to your desired smoothness.

- Step 7:

Varnishing

The next day, cover everything in a liberal coating of varnish. Make sure to get under the armrests and in the screw holes.

- Step 8:

The Library

Cut your plywood to size and sand everything before assembly.

Screw and glue the pannels together to make a box with a shelf in the middle.

Cut an angled roof and glue and screw together.

Mesure and cut the strips to make the door frame. Glue and screw it all together.
Glue the roof onto the library box.

Leave over night to dry.

The next day, paint everything and using hot glue, glue in the plexiglass door window.

- Step 9:

Putting the Library on the Bench

Glue and screw the Library to the Bench. Screwing from the inside attach the Library to the Bench with screws on the side and the bottom.

Leave it to dry then the next day paint the joint with varnish to stop water from getting in.

- Step 10:

Place it out in the public for your neighbours and passers by to enjoy.

Watch as people enjoy the Library and sit and read some books :)

EricL

Hello @NJ_at_Home

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your stay and read street library bench project.

This is such a thoughtful project that brings people together in a simple but meaningful way. Combining a beautifully crafted bench with a charming street library creates a welcoming place where neighbours can pause, read and connect, and it's lovely to hear that books, games and puzzles are all being shared. The craftsmanship and attention to detail really shine through.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful project with the community.

Eric