A miniature of the historic Casa de Lopez Adobe was unveiled during a meeting of the San Fernando City Council last month amid gasps of surprise.
These tiny libraries most often are simple boxes, but this highly-detailed replica is a work of art that will serve as a mobile “little free library” to allow community members to “take a book or leave a book.”
Although little libraries are typically placed outdoors, Nick Kimball, city manager for San Fernando, said they have tentative plans to place the mini Lopez Adobe indoors at City Hall “because it’s such a beautiful piece of art.”
“We want to make sure that it’s in a good spot where it doesn’t get damaged [and] the lobby at City Hall is open to the public every day of the week,” said Kimball, adding that the planned addition of retractable wheels to the stand will allow them to take it outside for special occasions, such as the city’s anniversary celebration at the site of the actual Lopez Adobe on Aug. 31.
The handcrafted mini library was presented as a gift to the city from the Friends of the San Fernando Library and local woodworking hobbyist Eric Perez as an homage to the city’s history. Library group member Maria Carrillo said she hopes it will help inspire a “passion for reading.”
“I believe that literacy opens up the world to you,” she said. “It did for me.”
Inspired to Read
When Carrillo was struggling to learn how to read as a third-grader, Carrillo’s teacher advised her mother to take her to the public library to try to spark her interest in books and learning.
“Going to the library and getting my first library card changed everything – and I’ve had a library card ever since,” recounted Carrillo, 86, a lifelong resident of San Fernando.
Carrillo has been trying to ignite that same love of reading among others – especially children – for more than two decades as a member of the Friends of the San Fernando Library. The volunteer-run group has approximately 10 members, and hosts used book sales and other fundraisers throughout the year to help support events and programs at the local library.
“Unfortunately, the pandemic really took a toll on the Friends. We were a very active group,” said Carrillo. “But then when people dropped out, we just never got going the same way again.”
To help mobilize membership, Carrillo decided to revive the group’s dormant “little libraries” project, based on the popular trend of placing book-sharing boxes in publicly accessible sites so community members can “take a book or leave a book” (or share canned or boxed goods or other items). Familiar with Perez’s woodworking skills, she thought he would be ideal for the project.
‘Giving Back to the Community’
A transportation systems specialist by day, Perez enjoys spending his free time on woodworking projects in the carport of his Mission Hills home, where he set up workbenches, saws and other tools. He took up the hobby two years ago when he decided to try his hand at crafting cornhole boards for his brother. The gift was a big hit and led to his growing interest in woodworking.
“When Maria asked me how I felt about making [a little library] that looks like the Lopez Adobe, I knew there would be a few challenges,” recalled Perez. “It’s such a beloved and historic place that really represents San Fernando. It was a challenge that I was honored to take on … because it’s my way of giving back to the community that I grew up in.”
Perez devoted more than 45 hours over several months to completing the Lopez Adobe Little Library, which measures 33 inches in length by 16 inches in width and is 18 inches tall. He utilized his spare materials from past projects, but to help accurately replicate the roof, Perez said he had 1,200 miniature tiles imported directly from Spain as a finishing touch.
Perez credited Carrillo for inspiring his dedication to the project.
“She has always been such a passionate person for the city of San Fernando – [and] her passion and heart of gold are so contagious,” he said.
Although Perez created the mini Adobe Lopez to be placed in one permanent outdoor location, he suggested adding a mobile stand (which he is currently constructing) – emblazoned with the logo of the city of San Fernando – to allow the little library to be moved between different indoor and outdoor sites.
Carrillo said there are currently “only a handful” of little free libraries across San Fernando, including one near the school office of Santa Rosa Catholic Church and another in the lobby of Las Palmas Park. She said the Friends group plans to create and install more little libraries in town with the help of local students in partnership with area schools or on-site at the local library.
But, she noted, the Lopez Adobe Little Library will remain the only “one-of-a-kind replica.”