Lazy Little Library

lazyguydiy added on 9/10/2017

The Lazy Little Library is a great weekend project to really bring the community together! Made of materials to withstand the elements and keep books dry, it's a great place for the neighborhood to share their favorite reads. Be sure to check out the build video on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2wUpoil

Directions

Follow the steps below to complete this project.

Print Directions

Frame

Pre-drill 3/4" depth pocket holes into both 15" x 19" 3/4" plywood panels and attach to 19" x 23" back panel with wood glue and 1-1/4" exterior Blue Kote Screws.

Side Panels

Pre-drill both 15" x 21.50" side panels for 3/4" pocket holes, then attach with wood glue and 1-1/4" exterior pocket screws.

Roof Panels

Pre-drill all three roofing panels with 3/4" pocket holes. Place the pocket holes on the inside of the panel to avoid visible holes for finishing. Attach flush to the front and back with 1-1/4" exterior Blue Kote pocket screws and center the middle panel. There should be a 3/4" overhang on each side.

Side Trim

Attach 10.75" & 23" side trim with exterior rated brad nails and wood glue. *Note: I used PVC 1"x 3" for the trim, but you can also use 1x3 cedar or pressure treated material.

Roof

Attach the roofing panels with wood glue and pre-drilled 2" wood screws. Make sure to overlap the top 16.50" panel. Allow for a 1" overhang on each side.

Front Trim

Attach the 15.50" & 23" 1"x 3" trim pieces with wood glue and brad nails. For additional strength, I ran a piece of scrap wood on the inside behind the 15.50" to strengthen the build on both the top and bottom.

Door Build

Pre-cut the same 1"x 3" material (15.50" & 13") for the door frame. Using the table saw, cut a dado groove on the inside edge of the door frame to slide the plexiglass insert into. I recommend attaching the 2 sides and bottom, slide in the plexiglass window and attach the top. You can also put a touch of silicon sealant in the groove to add to the waterproofing of the door. With the door completed, add hardware (I used rustic t-hinges and a farmhouse handle), plus a magnetic catch on the inside to hold the door shut.

X Trim

Cut and attach the 1"x 3" trim pieces with wood glue and brad nails. Caulk all edges with exterior rated caulk.

Roofing

Cut four cedar planks to 17" and 17.625" each. Take one of each length and rip down two 2" by length planks (middle inserts to accommodate roof width). Attach planks with an opposite overlap from plywood roofing panels allowing for a 1" overhang on each side. Attach with wood glue and exterior rated brad nails.

Pole

If attaching to a 4"x 4" base, inset the pole into the ground at least 12". Attach the 2"x 4" x 10" supports to the bottom of the library with a space wide enough for a 4"x 4". Pre-drill and attach to the 4" x 4" with 2 bolts or length wood screws.

Finishing & Shelf

I used exterior rated paint for all surfaces and an exterior poly for the cedar roofing that should keep this project weather and water proof for years. Not in the pictures, but I also added a shelf on the inside with pocket screws that is 17.50" wide and 8" deep. Make sure it's tall enough so you can accommodate most book sizes.

Materials Required:

Wood Products:

(1) 3/4" Thick, Full Sheet, Plywood
(4) 1x3, 96", PVC Trim or Pressure Treated Wood
(2) 1x6, 72", Cedar Picket
(1) 4x4, 48", Board

Hardware/Supplies:

(1) Pull Handle
(2) T-Hinges
(1) Magnetic Catch
(1) 12"x18" Plexiglass
(1) 1-1/4" Blue Kote Exterior Pocket Screws
(1) TiteBond III Exterior Wood Glue
(1) Exterior rate caulk

Parts/Cut List:

(1) Back Panel, 3/4" x 23" x 19"
(2) Top & Bottom Panels, 3/4" x 19" x 15"
(2) Side Panels, 3/4" x 21.50" x 15"
(3) Roof Panel (Triangle), 3/4" x 14.50" x 14.50" x 20.50"
(4) Vertical Trim, 1"x 3" x 23"
(4) Horizontal Trim, 1"x 3" x 10.75"
(1) Roof Panel, 3/4" x 15.50" x 18.50"
(1) Roof Panel, 3/4" x 16.50" x 18.50"
(2) Front Vertical Trim, 1" x 3" x 23"
(2) Front Horizontal Trim, 1"x 3" x 15.50"
(4) X Trim, 1" x 3" x 21"
(2) Horizontal Door Piece, 1" x 3" x 15.50"
(2) Vertical Door Piece, 1"x 3" x 13"
(3) Cedar Roofing Plank, 1" x 6" x 17"
(2) Middle Cedar Roofing Plank Insert, 1" x 2" x 17"
(3) Cedar Roofing Plank, 1" x 6" x 17.625"
(2) Middle Cedar Roofing Plank Insert, 1" x 2" x 17.625"
(1) Post, 4" x 4" x 48"
(2) Base Attachment, 2" x 4" x 10"

Discussion

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Reviews:

September 24, 2020

Good general design, needed some tweaks - The overall design and aesthetic of this unit is great, but I found a few tweaks were needed. 1) Waterproofing. With moderate rain water tended to… see full review

- mchughs
September 10, 2020

thanks for the plans - a great project with easy to follow plans. I did not pre-cut the pieces, but measured them myself once I had started.

- gshields
July 9, 2020

Pockets? - Do you have any guidance for those of us who don't own a pocket tool? And how are you measuring 17.625"?

- rmdurick
April 5, 2019

Great Little Library Plan - Thanks for the great plans! They were easy to follow. I love the design. I made this little library for my grandson.

- budbarnes
March 21, 2019

Building it Now... - We picked this because it had what appeared to be well designed plans. Being close to complete on the build now, the materials that were all cut to t… see full review

- tbloomfield
November 21, 2018

Great plans - I built this and it turned out great. It is very big. It took longer than I thought because of the painting. One thing I added was a magnetic stop t… see full review

- squ1dward
June 21, 2018

Too big. - I didn't realize how large this would end up being until I built it. It looks good but it is big and heavy.

- the minnesota kid
May 10, 2018

weighs close to 50 lbs. w/o books - The cut list & design plans are well organized and presented, especially for the less experienced builder, like myself. However the finished project,… see full review

- jimcgold@gmail.com