In the shadow of the umbrella of his garden, in a sunny Wednesday afternoon, Angie Zamora, educator, organizes a selection of books in three metal carts placed in front of her house in the city of Bell.
This year, Zamora opened his own free library at home after the closing of several public libraries in the area.
“Three local libraries were closed: the one here in Bell, Maywood’s, Southgate’s, and there was a fourth that also closed,” Zamora explained. “I wondered myself: what better time to start than now? I’ve always wanted to do this.”
The library called Witchy Little Library aims to bring the power of the written word to the children of the community and all people looking for easy, fast and free access to books.
Zamora is concerned that with federal cuts, he continues to limit himself in southeastern Los Angeles, access to education, especially books and literature.
“It is very important to have access to books because it’s how we learn,” he explains. That is why we value the importance of books being available to everyone, especially from the Latin community, where it is needed so much.
Unlike other free community libraries, which are usually independent boxes located on the sidewalk, yours offers a more intimate approach. In Witchy Little Library people can enter the garden of the home, leaf through the books, take up to three, return them the next day and take another three books.
“I love the conversations I have with people, but I also like to let them be,” explains Zamora. “That’s when I capture beautiful moments, as adults who become children when they find a book they loved when they were younger.”
Zamora emphasizes that the difference between a public library and the one she installs in her garden, is that with her you can take a book forever and in public libraries they always have to deliver it.
Her desire to offer free books to other people not only arises from the needs she observes in her community, but also from a way of honoring her grandfather, who bought her first books, at a time when she began to develop love for reading.
Zamora still vividly remembers being sitting on the floor of the library with his grandfather, looking dozens of books about magic and witches. He has always felt connected to a superior power.
“This library is a tribute to my grandfather Benjamin and the roots of my family in El Salvador and Guatemala,” explains Zamora. “He believed in me as his witch and taught me the importance of helping others.”
The educator recalled that in some of the conversations with whom they visit the library, she has learned that there are children who have never stepped on a library.
Zamora remembers that as a child he attended the annual fairs of the book that were held in the school, where he did not reach him to buy any book. A problem that continued to observe as an adult at the books of his children’s book at school.
“Seeing some children arrive with 2 or 3 dollars, asking if it is enough for the book they want and not being able to get it is heartbreaking,” he explains. “This is my way of helping. Do not be misunderstood, it is good to go to the book fair, but here they can get free books.”
His little library has books for all ages and his shelves are divided into sections: adult books, early learning books and an increasing collection of books in Spanish, a request that she is fulfilling after someone asked for them.
Zamora plans to offer small gifts such as pencils, calcamonies and other surprises that give visitors the feeling of being at a community book fair.
“It’s not just about books, it’s about culture, connection and a bit of magic,” says the educator. “The library is a space for healing, joy and community.”
Witchy Little Library
If you want to visit the Community Library or donate books, visit it here: 4888 Bell Ave, Bell, CA 90201