Ambassador Guide
The Puzzle Republic’s 2025
First things First
Congrats on beginning your puzzle library adventure!!
It’s no easy task but it’s incredibly rewarding when you complete it. And that’s really just
the beginning as your neighborhood and community benefit from it for years to come.
1. Location
Pick a spot that is inviting and has optimal visibility. You may want to check local regulations or your HOA to see if there are issues with putting up a library. Of the 4 libraries we installed, we never actually asked for permission. Wink wink - ask for forgiveness later ;-)
If you don’t have a suitable location at your home, reach out to nearby churches, schools, or community centers. They may allow you to install the library in front of their building. That’s what we did with our second library.
2. The Box
Make sure your box is BIG ENOUGH to hold puzzles, we can’t stress this enough!
Some boxes out there hold a lot of books, but that doesn’t equal a lot of puzzles.
We recommend interior measurements of at least 17" wide x 20" tall x 12" deep (that is what the Jigsaw Jungle is).
The bigger you can get, the more puzzles you can hold, and the less overflow you will have.
Here are places that sell pre-built options:
WW Woodshop KBF Woods Stuckeys Plastic Bins/Benches Repurposed Newspaper Boxes
Or you can upcycle! Maybe there is some old furniture stashed away that could make a great box…
Some of our Favorites
*Click each picture for the link to buy it.
DIY Kit
3. Pick a Theme
Choose something that will stand out, choose something unique to you.
Animal lover? Favorite color? Fond vacation spot? Have fun with it!
Look at Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration.
🏖 🌴 🐴 🌵 🏎 ⛽️
PUZZLE PARADISE JIGSAW SALOON PUZZLE PITSTOP
4. Design it
Get some paint pens for the small details. Transfer paper or stencils are
helpful when you want to add those elaborate designs.
Exterior paint is a MUST in order to weather the elements. We highly suggest getting a sealer to ensure
your library will last for many years. There are a couple different kinds, some even come in a spray.
The design phase is usually the longest so don’t be afraid to get your family or friends involved to help.
You’ll be surprised how many people want to be included! Don’t forget to take
pics along the way. You might use them later on...
5. Stock Up
You’ll want to have about 20 puzzles to stock & replenish for the first initial wave of visitors. In true “If you build it, they will come” fashion, most people may be taking before they are giving. You might need to keep replenish puzzles for a few weeks until the neighbors catch on by contributing and the library starts to maintain itself. If you don’t already have a surplus of old puzzles lying around, you can get a bunch
at a dollar store of thrift store.
Bonus Tip
This is the perfect time to get our sticker templates
for puzzle boxes and ziploc bags. The inside stickers help spread the word on social media. The stickers for the bags are useful to avoid the dreaded missing piece that fell
out of the box as it was traded.
Optional: Custom Box Stamps
You can buy a custom rubber stamp with our logo and messaging on it as a fun way of labeling the inside of any puzzle boxes that come through your library. We find this is a great tool to spread awareness about puzzle libraries and also prevents people from taking puzzles and trying to resell them online.
6. Install
A post & concrete combo is a common base.
Quick concrete is easy to use and cheap. Lumber that measures 4" x 4" around is best.
If you can’t dig into the ground, you can purchase a
large planter and fill it with cement and/or plants.
YouTube tutorial on Post installation
*Always be careful when digging into the ground*
Other Install Options
7. Grand Opening
Invite your neighbors and friends to celebrate your addition to the community . Encourage them to bring a puzzle to place inside or to come get one. You can even go all out with a ribbon cutting. Document the day with pictures and have fun, you’ve earned it!
8. Guest Book
This is one of the most exciting things about being an Ambassador. People will leave positive comments, thank you notes, and sometimes they will even leave logs of what they dropped off. It’s also a great way for neighbors to start
a dialogue with each other.
9. Get the word out
As soon as you’ve installed your library, let people know about it and where to find it. Put up flyers, post it in local Facebook groups, or send a tip to local newspapers. Be sure to include behind the scenes photos of your progress and of course some good shots of the final product!
Click here for a press release template you can use.
Click here to download The Puzzle Republic logo.
Click Here for Guest Book Cover Template
Click Here for Sample Notebooks
Don’t forget to check out the Ambassador Group on Facebook. It’s a private group just for us Ambassadors to ask questions and share stories. We can’t wait to see you there.
You are on your way to becoming an important piece to the bigger picture!
Please email us if you have any questions.
hello@thepuzzlerepublic.com
10. Let’s get you on the map!
When your library is installed, fill out the form below so we can add your library to the map on our page.
FAQ
FAQ