Under the shade of her garden umbrella on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, Angie Zamora, an educator, organizes a selection of books on three metal carts placed in front of her home in the city of Bell.

This year, Zamora opened her own free library in her home after several public libraries closed in the area.

“Three local libraries closed: the one here in Bell, the one in Maywood, the one in Southgate, and there was a fourth that also closed,” Zamora explained. “I asked 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 to all people looking for easy, fast, and free access to books.

Zamora is concerned that federal cuts will continue to limit access to education in Southeast Los Angeles, especially to books and literature.

“It’s very important to have access to books because that’s how we learn,” she explains. That's why we value the importance of making books accessible to everyone, especially the Latino community, where they're so desperately needed.

Unlike other free community libraries, which tend to be standalone drop boxes located on sidewalks, hers offers a more intimate approach. At Witchy Little Library, people can come into the home's yard, browse 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," Zamora explains. "That's when I capture beautiful moments, like adults becoming 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 sets up in her yard is that with her, people can take a book with them forever, while at public libraries, they always have to turn it in.

Her desire to provide free books to others stems not only from the needs she sees in her community, but also as a way to honor her grandfather, who bought her first books, at a time when she began to develop a love of reading.

Zamora still vividly remembers sitting on the library floor with her grandfather, looking through dozens of books about magic and witches. She has always felt connected to a higher power.

“This library is a tribute to my grandfather Benjamin and my family’s roots in El Salvador and Guatemala,” Zamora explains. “He believed in me as his little witch and taught me the importance of helping others.”

The educator recalled that in some of her conversations with library visitors, she learned that there are children who have never set foot in a library.

Zamora recalls that as a child, she would attend the annual book fairs held on school grounds, where she couldn't afford to buy a single book. This is a problem she continued to observe as an adult at her children's book fairs at school.

“Seeing some children come in with $2 or $3, asking if it's enough for the book they want, and not being able to get it, is heartbreaking,” she explains. “This is my way of helping out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine to go to the book fair, but you can get free books here.”

Her little library has books for all ages, and its shelves are divided into sections: adult books, early learning books, and a growing collection of Spanish-language books—a request she’s fulfilling after someone asked for them.

Zamora plans to offer small gifts like pencils, stickers, 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 little bit of magic,” the educator emphasizes. “The library is a space for healing, joy, and community.”

Witchy Little Library

If you would like to visit the community library or donate books, please visit it here: 4888 Bell Ave, Bell, CA 90201