Caleb Zimmerschied Valadez is a freelance writer. He can be reached at calzimval@gmail.com.

You may think of libraries as places to borrow books and access the internet. But think again — especially if you live near the Santa Fe Springs Library. It’s there for the entire community, even people who never visit or sign up for a library card.

“The dollars that go into our library are very meticulously picked to be put into programs and services that are going to benefit every single person in our community,” said Jessica Magallanes, a Santa Fe Springs librarian.

Residents of Santa Fe Springs have long used their library for adult literacy programs, free access to databases, passport services, and homework help. The library also hosts multiple cultural and educational programs focusing on the shared experiences of the different groups they saw coming to visit.

Attendance for some of these programs has jumped since the COVID-19 lockdown ended. In fact, bit by bit, the Santa Fe Springs Library has become the city’s go-to institution for culture and entertainment, with library membership reflecting the city’s diverse population.

Located in the Gateway region of Los Angeles County, Santa Fe Springs is a predominantly Hispanic or Latino community. But the library also sees many Korean families coming in from neighboring cities. For one of the library’s most successful programs, Stories, Flavors, Sounds, Librarian Olga Gonzalez wanted to emphasize the experiences of the biggest ethnic demographics she saw at the library. The program featured a full week of workshops and readings by authors from both communities. The last day included musical performances by violinist Sara Jin, traditional Mexican music by Cascada de Flores, and a Korean tea ceremony.

Tea Master Youngmi Yi from the Korean Cultural Center of Los Angeles led the ceremony with her grandchildren and served traditional Korean sweets afterward. She says that Korean tea ceremonies offer a much-needed moment of reflection. The intentional, meditative experience is steeped in Korean culture.

“Unlike other events that tend to focus on a single theme, this one offered a more holistic experience where participants could engage with various elements of Korean culture together,” Yi said.

“Many children don’t fully understand the culture of their parents’ homeland,” she further noted. “Events like this offer valuable opportunities for mutual understanding and appreciation, helping us come together as one community and creating a shared sense of beauty.”

Librarians at Santa Fe Springs Library make a point of speaking with members and seeing what would benefit the community the most. After speaking with families who visited the library, staff noticed that many of the adults wanted to improve their English. To better serve these populations, the library relaunched its English as a Second Language program in May 2024.

They also noticed that many adults with disabilities were visiting the library but were not very engaged. “They would just sit with their caregivers, not talking with each other or making connections,” said Gonzalez. “They didn’t feel like they could join the community.”

That observation led to the successful reintroduction of Thursday Club and SFS Grows: Climate Warriors — both paused during the pandemic. Thursday Club provides a safe space for adults with disabilities and their caregivers to connect with each other and engage with their communities through art-based education programming.

Members can have a range of ability levels, so the library makes sure that every attendee can participate. Activities can include making mosaics, working with clay, or painting. If a participant has a disability that might prevent them from enjoying the craft, staff prepare an alternative one.

A subset of Thursday Club is SFS Grows: Climate Warriors. This program provides climate action-related education where people learn about composting and sustainability. The crafts include activities like making grocery bags out of t-shirts or recycling newspapers into writing paper. The library also opened a garden where attendees can learn how to grow produce, flowers, and plants native to California.

SFS Grows focuses less on big acts of sustainability and instead supports the idea that climate action starts at home. By giving people access to education and an opportunity to practice these skills, they can become sustainability advocates and share what they learned with family and friends, spreading the message of sustainability.

Magallanes helps manage Thursday Club and SFS Grows. She has noticed a big difference in engagement with Thursday Club members. They’ve begun greeting each other and library staff by name, showing interest in each other’s lives and sharing resources.

“I think that’s such a beautiful thing that not only are they creating relationships with other community members, but also with the people that service them,” she said. “That’s what we want: We want to know our community members and create those relationships.”

Since free programs that meet the needs of developmentally disabled adults are not very common around Santa Fe Springs, the programs have grown exponentially.

Librarians hope that even residents who don’t set foot in the library will notice and benefit from the programming. They also support community organizations, such as school districts and parks, with programs like pop-up-and-play activities. “We’re not only in the library: We exist outside in the community,” said Gonzalez.