In Perris last week doing research for an upcoming column, your library-lovin’ columnist decided to pop into the public library. That’s the Cesar E. Chavez Branch of the county library system. First I admired the statue of the labor leader out front — more on that in a bit. Then I circled around to the entry to go inside. Three orange cones blocked my way. The library (163 E. San Jacinto Ave.) turns out to be under renovation, making this a poorly timed visit on my part. Or not so poorly for news purposes. A sign announced that the library closed Aug. 24 for renovations. I took a peek inside from the doorway and saw the library stacks draped in plastic and a crew at work. Useful information about the closure isn’t easy for the public to come by. Notices in English and Spanish outside the Cesar E. Chavez Perris Library state that the branch is closed “until further notice” due to renovations. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) The branch’s website says the library is “closed until further notice,” without explanation. The county library’s Instagram page suggests we follow the branch’s Facebook page “to stay up-to-date.” OK, but its Facebook hasn’t been updated since Aug. 14. (That beats its Twitter, last touched in 2019.) If there’s any excitement about whatever it is that’s happening, it’s being kept under wraps just like the books. However, I made inquiries and can provide that “further notice” myself. The city of Perris owns the building, which is 30 years old, and leases it to the Riverside County Library System. What’s taking place is a $1.2 million update, with the city and the county each contributing $600,000 to give the place a refresh. “From our $600,000 contribution, we expect to provide library interior painting, restroom renovation, interior lighting and acoustical sound panels,” city spokesperson Stephen Hale says. “The county will provide new furniture, a reception desk, new carpet and flooring, including tile at the entrance.” Mike Franklin, deputy director of the county’s Office of Economic Development, explains further: “The city is running the project with an anticipated completion of mid-November. The goal is to reopen before Thanksgiving.” Thank you, gentlemen. Library patrons, follow the newspaper “to stay up-to-date”! With that out of the way, let me tell you about the Perris library’s history, because it’s unexpectedly interesting. The library began as a public reading room in a general store in 1890, which may qualify Perris as having Riverside County’s first public library, according to a city historical video. A free public library was authorized in 1912, a year after cityhood. The branch moved several times over the years until 1994, when the $6 million permanent library opened. Work is underway Sept. 19 inside the Cesar E. Chavez Perris Library. The branch closed Aug. 24 for $1.2 million in renovations. Officials say the library may reopen before Thanksgiving. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Cesar Chavez was more than just a name added to the library. He visited Perris several times in the 1980s to organize farmworkers during labor unrest, particularly in onion fields. On one visit he spoke outdoors, in what a newspaper described as “a driving rainstorm,” at Russell Stewart Park — essentially, the land on which the library was built. After Chavez’s April 1993 death, and when the library branch was under construction, more than 1,000 people asked that it be named for Chavez. The City Council agreed unanimously. When the library opened on June 18, 1994, according to the city video, it was the first building anywhere named for Chavez. How about that? Perris’ unofficial motto could be “si, se puede” (yes, you can). When the library’s 30th anniversary was celebrated in June, the statue of Chavez mentioned up top was unveiled. (Told you I’d come back to that.) Its $479,000 cost was paid from the city’s public art fund, to which developers contribute. It depicts a smiling Chavez holding an open book while standing by a boy and girl, a basket of produce at their feet. In a quote on the dedication plaque, Chavez declares: “You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read.” You can’t. And as a guy who just wanted to pop into the Perris library on a whim, I ended up learning a lot too. Save the date Riverside’s Local History Book Fair, the fourth annual, takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 6. A dozen writers of local history, as well as four organizations, will be selling their books. Most of us have brand-new books to sell. That includes yours truly. Yes, the book fair will be the debut of my latest, titled “Waving at Strangers,” collecting the best of five years of my columns. Come see me — and the rest of us too! — in the basement of the Riverside Medical Clinic, 7117 Brockton Ave., Riverside. Related Articles Local News | Repairs to Riverside’s De Anza statue to be explored Local News | Bowling’s 1950s boom in suburbs gets fresh spin in new book Local News | Silverlake Coffee, an oasis in a turbulent world, is closing Local News | Readers share personal stories from Ontario’s Jay Littleton Ball Park Local News | Redlands to get Inland Empire’s second Shake Shack More about the event and the books in question, including a new history of Riverside’s Fairmount Park, is coming in a column next week. Programming note Friday’s column will be absent due to travel, but look for me again in our Sunday editions. brIEfly A mural with the friendly message “Welcome to Banning” will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Friday outside Banning Donuts on the city’s Sixth Street main drag. At 3,600 square feet, painter Sarah Sachse’s mural is said by advocates to be the fourth-largest mural in Riverside County — but who’s counting? Fran Hanratty, the Chamber of Commerce’s ambassador of beautification, coordinated the effort, which must be as welcome as the mural. David Allen welcomes you Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Email [email protected], phone 909-483-9339, like davidallencolumnist on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on X.