The city has turned another page on two Little Free Libraries slated for installation later this spring: non-profit A Reason To Survive is now working alongside National City’s Public Art Committee to decorate the little libraries so they represent the community.
Little Free Libraries, found nationwide, are roughly the size of a kitchen cabinet, stocked with donated books, and can be placed throughout a community for residents to borrow and return books on an honor system. Library and Community Services Director Joyce Ryan said the county’s Library Director, Miguel Acosta told her about the initiative and National City was later allotted two cabinets.
“I’m feeling really good about this project, our board of library trustees wants to create more access for books and facilitate literacy in the community, and really believes in this project but the cabinets are gray and if we place them in the community they should be vibrant,” Ryan said.
The ARTS organization aims to lift South County youth through creative arts outreach. Each year they use $125,000 raised by grants and other funding sources toward providing artwork for the city, Ryan said. They often install artwork in city buildings using their supplies and materials and are familiar with art installation throughout the city.
“We thought the Little Free Libraries would be a great choice to be decorated as an ARTS project,” Ryan said.
Ryan said she felt it was important for the art committee to approve of all the designs brought before them but has been working with the city’s department of public works to determine placement of the cabinets in the meantime.
“We have three in the city already— one by the library, one by Paradise Creek and one by a market so we thought it would be great to put one by Las Palmas park and one at Sweetwater Heights Park,” Ryan said.
“We think it makes sense to have ARTS take the lead to utilize staff time to reach out to artists or whoever they feel is appropriate to the project. They have artists that they work with and it would be an effective way of getting it in and moving along quickly,” Ryan said.
Potentially, the Little Free Libraries can help close the literacy gap for students who lack access to transportation to visit a physical library building or with connectivity challenges at home.
San Diego County District one Supervisor Nora Vargas brought the non-profit, shared-book concept idea to the Board of Supervisors back in March 2021 as a way to promote literacy in disadvantaged communities.
The San Diego Council on Literacy reported in 2020 that approximately 560,000 local adults read at an elementary school level, or not at all, and 60% of low-income students have no books at home. Roughly 18% of National City residents live below poverty level, according to 2019 National Census Bureau data.
During the Jan. 25 Public Art Committee meeting, ARTS Executive Director James Halliday said they’re already building some momentum around the project and it is moving forward.
Designs for the Little Free Libraries are expected by February, Ryan said and they’re hoping to have the art completed and install the little libraries by the end of April.
The library also has books waiting to stock the decorated cabinets once they are installed.
“Anytime we can provide art anywhere is good,” Public Art Committee Chair Bill Virchis said.
