Libélula Books & Co., an independent bookstore with a focus on community building, idea-sharing and inclusivity, has opened in San Diego, Calif., the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Located in San Diego's Barrio Logan neighborhood, Libélula Books & Co. opened its doors officially in June. Co-owners and partners Jesi Gutierrez and Celi Hernandez carry books in both Spanish and English, with a focus Chicano history, transformative justice, parenting, cooking, feminism and more. There are titles from major publishers and small presses, self-published magazines, as well as a kids' corner with books in English and Spanish.
"We wanted a space that was not only safe for folks of all walks of life and ages, but also a place that was centralized around books and knowledge and idea-sharing," Gutierrez told the Union-Tribune.
The store also offers free Wi-Fi and a shared laptop that neighborhood residents can use for things like writing resumes, filling out job applications and doing schoolwork. Having these resources available to community members was very important to Gutierrez, who has "personally seen the need for access to technology among students in Barrio Logan and surrounding communities" through her work with neighborhood schools; she also grew up in a household without Wi-Fi or a computer, and understands that need firsthand.
She and Hernandez hope to bring in more community laptops through donations. They reported that neighborhood kids are already hanging out at the bookstore during the day, despite it being relatively new.
Their event plans include author readings and educational events. In the near future Libélula will partner with the San Diego Brown Beret National Organization to host free tutoring sessions for elementary schoolkids. Hernandez, meanwhile, is turning the store's basement into a gallery that will display works from local artists.