The Celestial Library
Celebrating the intersection of books and community
On any given Saturday morning in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond district, you will find everything you could ever need: a rare but mighty glimpse of sunshine, the roaring call of Ocean Beach’s frigid waters, a hot cup of coffee with a homemade donut from coffee window + children’s wood shop The Butterfly Joint, and just across the street, a neighborhood lending library to pick up a new read or two.
From 10 am to 2 pm on most Saturdays, neighbor Chelsea Brown sits in a camping chair in her driveway with her rolling bookshelf and brown boxes of books waiting to recommend a next read to anyone who stops by. Taking little free libraries to the next level by mixing in human interaction and intentional curation, The Celestial Library invites neighbors and passersby to chat, pick up/drop off loans (complete with branded library cards!) and even buy from Chelsea’s vast catalogue of books.
Marrying two of The Cairn’s favorite things, community and books, we asked Chelsea to let us pick her brain in the first installment of our series Friends of The Cairn. Follow TCL on Instagram, look out for a TCL website coming soon and if you’re ever in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by and support our neighbors!
Courtney & Meghan xx
The Cairn: Hi Chelsea! Thanks so much for being The Cairn’s first interview guinea pig. Let’s start by having you introduce yourself.
Chelsea: I’m Chelsea, a proud Pizza Hut BOOK IT! victim/convert/success story. Food is the way to my heart, and Pizza Hut in the 90s knew that. Personal pan pizza by personal pan pizza, I became a bookworm in the 3rd grade and haven’t turned back. I like to read and I like to talk to my neighbors, so I started the Celestial Library.
TC: Tell us about The Celestial Library and its origin story.
C: I first had the idea to do something with books back in 2021. I was doing The Artist’s Way and I wrote in one of my Morning Pages that I wanted to bike up and down Ocean Beach with a book cart selling books. It seemed like the most idyllic way to spend my days. I mulled over the idea for a few months while my partner complained about my ever-growing collection of books taking over our home. In 2022, the idea morphed into a bookcase on wheels in my driveway and thus was born the Celestial Library.
TC: Where did the name come from?
C: I like the idea of interests being a series of constellations. One interest – or book – leads to another and leads to another and leads to yet another. Every person’s personal night sky is a collection of their constellations, their interests and inputs and experiences. I like the idea that the Celestial Library helps forge those connections.
TC: Describe your typical day when The Celestial Library is open.
C: I have a toddler, so my mornings are pretty full-on. I usually open a little late. I’ll roll everything out, post on my instagram profile that I’m open, and then I’ll grab a drink from The Butterfly Joint across the street. I set up my chair, open up my book, and hang. It used to be a pretty quiet affair, talking to maybe 1 or 2 people who felt comfortable stopping by a random person sitting in their driveway in the Outer Richmond. But now I feel like I’m talking non-stop to neighbors and friends. It’s always a treat when people from other parts of the city stop by, but I love that so many people in the neighborhood come to talk to me. I have my regulars, like Yope, my 92-year old Dutch neighbor. They don’t always check out a book, but it’s still a pleasure to talk and hang out. Neighborhood kids stop by and tell me the latest graphic novel they’re reading and that they did NOT like my recommendation, lol.
TC: What kind of books are available?
C: I mostly have a lot of fantasy and sc-fi books, that’s my comfort zone. But I also have a decent smattering of mythology and psychology books (I have my Master’s in Mythology). I have a somewhat large graphic novel collection. But my kids books are EXPLODING right now, I literally can’t keep up.
TC: What's your process for getting new books?
C: Getting new books has been an evolving process for me. It used to be just me buying books for myself and my partner gifting me books. He has an eerily amazing ability to pick books for me that I would have never otherwise chosen. Truly a blessing.
We are really lucky here in San Francisco with plentiful and bountiful Free Little Libraries. So I’m always scouring those. But I’ve recently started hitting up book sales, like those put on by Friends of the Library. I’ve been really amazed by the quality and titles I’ve found there.
I also get donations from friends and neighbors that I’ll pick through. I’m still honing my “book buying” instincts and I’m excited to grow in that way.
TC: What is your favorite part about managing the Celestial Library?
C: I do honestly get lost in organizing my books - adding new ones to my inventory, redoing what’s on the shelf, thinking of little random niche groupings. But the next biggest joy is getting to see my neighbors. After doing this for nearly 3 years (the Celestial Library’s anniversary is July 23rd!) I love how our bonds and relationships have grown.
And of course seeing gaps in my shelf after a day lending books out! Empty shelves here mean full shelves out there.
TC: What has surprised you the most?
C: A big surprise is that I’m still doing this! That people still come by, that it’s brought me some awesome friends. But the biggest surprise is that I’ve only lost 4 books the whole time. I don’t actually know how many books I’ve lent, but I think that’s an awesome return rate. And while I won’t name names, if you borrowed from me and still have any of these titles, I want them back!
Dark Knight: A True Batman Story by Paul Dini
Spinning by Tillie Walden
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James (I actually really did NOT like this book and don’t really want it back, but it’s the principle!)
Grown ups get coffee, kiddos get storytime
TC: What advice would you give someone who wants to create something similar?
C: This is going to sound cheesy, but be yourself. Truthfully, and genuinely. Whatever random ass stuff you’re into, someone is also into. But if you try to polish it into perfection, it’ll never be “ready” to launch, share, or talk about. Being yourself means just showing up and letting people meet you where you are. I strongly believe in abundance, so there’s more than enough space for everyone to do something like this.
Also, trust your neighbors. Meet your neighbors and lean on them. This little experiment of mine has only worked because my neighbors keep showing up.
TC: Anything else you want to share?
C: Real libraries are a vital part of any community. There are so many cool programs and services (like tool rental!) at libraries all over the country. So please get a library card at your local library to help prove to elected officials and local lawmakers that they’re necessary!