Coronation Library (Akaroa) — Akaroa
A volunteer-run heritage library book sale in Akaroa. Part of the Ashburton, Chertsey & Akaroa secondhand bookshops directory — see also our NZ used-book price guide.
No rights-cleared photo yet — our own photos coming soon. Open the map pin for the street location.
About
Coronation Library on Rue Jolie is Akaroa’s original public library, designed by Samuel Farr and opened in 1875, then remodelled in 1911–12 to mark the coronation of George V. It is a Category II listed heritage building, now cared for by a charitable trust with Christchurch City Council.
Volunteers open it to visitors, and it funds itself through a secondhand book sale: Christchurch City Libraries says the Akaroa Library gives all its withdrawn and unwanted donated books to Coronation Library for fundraising, and GrownUps described a “thriving second hand book shop” busy with cruise visitors in summer. Rare finds go into the permanent reference collection of New Zealand and specialist titles, which you can sit and read in the old council leather armchairs.
The library hosted a 150th-anniversary open day in the October 2025 Christchurch Heritage Festival.
Price tip: Fundraising prices on donated and library-withdrawn books.
What you’ll find
Donated and ex-library books for sale, plus a non-lending reference collection of New Zealand and specialist-interest titles and early committee purchases.
Practical info
- Address
- 103 Rue Jolie, Akaroa, Akaroa 7520
- Hours
- Volunteer-run; listings show Mon and Wed–Sun 11am–4pm, closed Tue — call ahead
- Phone
- 021 0886 5026
- Website
- www.facebook.com/coronationlibraryakaroa
Hours depend on volunteers and are not published by the trust; call ahead. Book sales support the maintenance of the Category II heritage building.