National Library of the Cook Islands

Planning for the library began in 1961, with a committee backed by the Resident Commissioner Oliver Dare.^[4] A site on Taputapuatea was donated by the Makea Nui Ariki and the Parliament of the Cook Islands agreed to match donations with public money.^[4] Plans for the library were drawn up by New Zealand Ministry of Works architect Kenneth Mills.^[5] The construction of the building was eventually funded by a loan from the Government of Nauru. Renovations were carried out in 2021.^[6]

The library was however not established until 1992, becoming operational in 1993. The library holds a collection of around 10,000 books, including both children's and adult's fiction, reference books, Cook Islands and Pacific reports, and Pacific rare books.^[7] The library has two employees, neither of whom are qualified librarians due to a lack of training opportunities on the island.^[2]

A bid was started to make the library a legal deposit library in 2012, however this was put on hold due to the 50th anniversary of the island's independence.^[2] In 2019, the Cook Islands Parliament donated volumes detailing the laws of the islands between 1965 and 1994.^[8]

• List of national libraries

21°12′24.34″S 159°46′10.77″W / 21.2067611°S 159.7696583°W / -21.2067611; -159.7696583