Once upon a time, an ice rink in Southern California had a problem with abandoned books. The coffee table in the lobby was strewn with newspapers, magazines, dominoes, Scrabble tiles, and numerous books, most of which were children’s books, written in French, English, and Spanish. The general manager loved that the children at the rink were reading, because literacy was one of her core values. Still, she hated to see the piles of accumulated clutter making the rink look unclean and uncared for.

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One day, an employee mentioned off-handedly that there were enough books in the lobby to fill a little free library, and a spark lit in the manager’s mind. This was the solution! A little free library, just for the rink! She brought the concept up to the rink’s go-to volunteer and handyman, asking if it could be done. The volunteer thought for a moment and decided to suggest something more.

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Rather than simply a solution to the problem of book accumulation, his little library would pay homage to its home. He decided to craft a little library that would feel at home at an ice rink: he wanted to create a little library that looked like a Zamboni, and the general manager was only happy to grant her approval to get the job done!

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The volunteer consulted a librarian on dimensions for a good-sized little library and, with an informed estimate for what was needed, he set to work on the drawing board. He soon emailed a draft of his proposed blueprints to the general manager, and with her blessing, the project was underway! After a couple of months, the little library was ready to make its debut.

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On Friday, November 7, 2025, the Zamboni Little Library was installed in front of Ice in Paradise’s Rinkside Cafe outdoor seating area. Come take a book, leave a book, and marvel at the wonderful Little Free Zamboni Library.