The Phoenix Rising: Norwich Anarchist Library: Comments Please!

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rich
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Mar 25 2007 18:13
The Phoenix Rising: Norwich Anarchist Library: Comments Please!

I've been asked by the social centre to run and organise an anarchist library for their events, and in due course, their social centre. I'm planning on donating (or long term loaning) most of my political books (approx. 100), plus most of my pamphlets.

Now I want to hear your ideas of how this should/shouldn't be done. If you have any experience of running similar things yourself or simliar type things that would be cool to share it, and comment on the proposal: A lot of this is just thinking out loud, so bear that in mind when reading it!

Books: stamped and have pasted in insert about the library (how to return books in absence of venue) - may try and organise a box at the Greenhouse or somewhere where people can return books? Anyone have ideas about this? Lent out with a sign out book.

Pamphlets: read in only - not to be taken away (based on advice from people at LARC. Books seem to return and be donated, but pamphlets dont. In addition, pamphlets are often harder to get hold of.)

Have a separate box/table with Freebies, which would also have pamphlets we're giving away. If we copy pamphlets to give away (relying on getting a photocopier, really), then have them marked as "Bootlegged by Norwich Anarchist Library: No Need To Return".

With the books, I thought it would be good if they were all on long term loan (even if heavily defaced by the stamping and pasting labels). With a reference number for each donor. That way if the library disbands, people can have their books back, also it might encourage people to get rid of books that they feel they should keep for some unknown reason. Also have a REFERENCE ONLY option on books that are likely to get nicked, or are really reference books.

Have some policy where the library will buy books either for the library or to resell. This will require a cash box, funds etc.

Supplementing the library: we should also order in books if we feel a particular area is not well enough covered, or a particularly great book is not represented.

The aims of the library:
* To get people reading anarchist ideas
* To encourage discussion of anarchist ideas

What should the library stock?
Initial ideas: anarchist political books, broad left books, eco books, whatever we're given

Or perhaps what we won't stock:
Fascist books, religious books, trot books, crap books (if we get to a point where we have too many).Or should we just go with what we're given? My wariness is that if we accept say Mein Kampf from someone (who has the intention that people read it and see that it is clearly the work of a nutjob) then people think that what they read is representative of anarchism... Perhaps the best thing is to have a clear disclaimer in the paste in bit that the book doesn't necessarily represent anarchist views (and maybe have the KSL definition of it in the back?) Also, who decides? Is it an independent body, or is it a personal thing, or is it an appendage of Norwich Anarchists?

Periodicals/Mags: To save money we could probably accept people's donations of their old periodicals eg Freedom/BlackFlag/Organise etc. plus have the most recent freesheets: Great Commotion/Resistance/SchNews/KSL bulletin

It would be cool if we could subscribe to the KSL bulletin, but we must aim for zero cost until we have some money.

How is the NAS free library going?

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rich
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Mar 25 2007 19:34

And does anyone have any ideas about folding shelves? Can anyone recommend any particular brand/where to get them from?

Also we'll need some solid folding tables (which we need in general for the Norwich Anarchists stall) so we can present the library in places where there aren't any available tables. I think you can get them at homebase and they cost £25 each.

Also does anyone see any need to catalog what books we have?

And does anyone read these forums (Norwich Anarchist onces) since they got rid of that sidebar bit that told you about "most recent stories"?

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Tojiah
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Mar 25 2007 20:31

I think it's very important to have a catalog of the books you have. People may well want a book that is on loan, for one.

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E-P
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Mar 25 2007 23:09

About folding shelves is this something you were thinking about:
http://www.bigdug.co.uk/acatalog/Budget.html

I don't know how cheap that is though, but that sort of shelves would be handy.

"Have some policy where the library will buy books either for the library or to resell. This will require a cash box, funds etc."

A benefit gig ?

I don't have any experience about this kind of stuff but if there is something you need help with such give me a message.

-E-P-

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Alex. I
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Mar 26 2007 18:46

Sounds like a good idea.
The NAS library hasn't had any returns as yet out of about 12 books borrowed and its been running since september/october last year. If you want books returned, down email addresses to send reminders after a set time would be useful. Not necessarily, 'give us back the book!' but more like 'you've had this book for ?months, if you feel like you wont read it any time soon, bring it back'. It would also be needed if people were to ask for books already on loan.
A set return place is definetely a good idea. I think that our library being out once or twice a week at haphazard times (despite our attempts at full coverage) has affected the possibility of returns.

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rich
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Mar 29 2007 11:47

OK. Will start work on a catalog when I get a free moment. The first outing of the library will be May 12th for the next Social Centre event. Any donations of books appreciated!

Hmmm looks like the NAS library needs a more robust collection system! Are the books freely taken, or are they signed out? I think the library should be a manned thing (it should sit nicely alongside the Norwich Anarchist stall). We just need to find a place that is reliable in the long term. I'll talk to the Greenhouse about maybe getting a box there (for the library only!). Does anyone know of any automated software for library kind of stuff? Just to keep track of it all and maybe automate the process. (I may be thinking too far into the future on that one!)

It would be cool if it reaches any decent kind of size to take it to festivals and places where the stalls go (though as a reading library, not a lending library), but I'm not sure how feasible that is. I know R2D2 does a similar thing, but not really at places that aren't already "radical".

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Suzi
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Apr 1 2007 18:43

Library sounds like a good idea but will people really be able to borrow books and return them if the library is only out at random times? A returns box would be a very good idea.
I would suggest books are only lent for a month at a time - as you need to put a time limit on things as otherwise people will keep the books for years.
A database style thing with a record of the books and record of borrowers would be a good idea. Now that Norwich has areas of free wireless internet this could be an online thing. Potentially people could log on to renew books and search the catalogue for books they want to borrow. I am sure there are some techie people that could help us to do this. If we had something online we could put things like pamphlets up on the web – making them easier to access and saving trees!
Trying to find a permanent spot for the books would be good.
Good idea Rich – thanks for all your hard work in advance!
I have got some books to donate, but where will you keep them – storing them in someone’s house could take up a lot of space.

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darren p
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Apr 11 2007 20:10

This sound like something I'd like to get involved with though I am NOT an anarchist myself - I am prepared to work on practical projects with people who call them selves "anarchist".

I think it is more useful to get people to think for themselves then trying to persuade them to the "facts" of a certain ideology. The anti-state aspect of anarchism is a good starting point but does not go far enough. Capitalism manifests itself as a mediated social relation, as commodity relations and the resulting alienation & reification. So revolutionary working class / anti-capitalist action must also combat these aspects.

I think it would be a good idea to include "left-communist" texts from authors like Rosa Luxembourg, Anton Pannekoek, the Situationists and other non-anarchist libertarians such as Wilhelm Reich..

Anyway I'm much interested in this library idea so drop me PM.

www.theoryandpractice.org.uk

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Coconut man
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Apr 12 2007 09:21
Quote:
I think it is more useful to get people to think for themselves then trying to persuade them to the "facts" of a certain ideology. The anti-state aspect of anarchism is a good starting point but does not go far enough. Capitalism manifests itself as a mediated social relation, as commodity relations and the resulting alienation & reification. So revolutionary working class / anti-capitalist action must also combat these aspects.

I think that including texts by left communists/libertarian Marxists/council communists and the like is a good idea, although there are one or two members of the group who hold knee jerk anti-Marxist views (you know who you are wink ), but hopefully they can put their personal prejudices aside.

Personally, I agree with you and believe that we should be aiming to build working class self-determination, instead of trying to push a particular ideology. Please don't feel that you aren't welcome to involve yourself in this or any other project that Norwich Anarchists undertake just because you don't call yourself an anarchist. This is just my opinion and not that of NA in general, but to me it doesn't matter whether or not someone calls themselves an anarchist. When you get right down to it, I really only call myself an anarchist out of convenience and consider myself a libertarian socialist/communist before anything else. I (and a few others in the group whether they'd admit it or not) certainly have more in common with most non-Leninist Marxists than I do with certain individuals and groups who identify as anarchists.

To everyone else: I still think this library will be a good way to loose books quickly and never see them again wink.

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darren p's picture
darren p
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Apr 12 2007 11:45

Yes, The library should include a bit of Marx, definately "1844 manuscripts" and first volume of "Capital". Incidently Lenin's "The State and Revolution" would be a good addition and example of what didn't happen in Russia.

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MalFunction
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Apr 12 2007 14:44

best of luck.

Tend to agree with the comment that lending political books and pamphlets is the easiest way of never seeing them again. (and having worked in public libraries it's often the political stuff that gets nicked there too.)

Re pamphlets etc - have a scanner/printer or photocopier and offer to copy stuff for people - or download material off internet.

If you think anything is valuable don't put it in the library.

rather than having a library concept - just have a space available for people to donate and take books - that way nobody gets too upset if they're not returned.

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rich
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Apr 14 2007 13:02

If people give it, it'll be in the library. I am very strongly anti Marx, not as a knee jerk, but as I see no point in reading about the dialectic, alienation and a load of theory. I'd rather people spent their time and intellect looking at how to build a decent workers movement, rather than how many petit bourgeois can dance on the head of a pin. Anyway, rest assured: any decisions as to contents of the library will be collective, and I'd personally favour there being a whole spectrum of socialist thought in there.

"working class self-determination, instead of trying to push a particular ideology"
Sounds nice, means nothing. The working class is self-determining at the minute. Just not in a way that is acceptable to libertarian communists (whether you consider yourself anarchist or not). Stop pretending that ideology shouldn't exist because some arty French intellectuals told you it can't!

Anyway, rather than be a hypocrite and get bogged down: I think Malfunction's idea is a good one. Or maybe something a bit like book crossing? http://www.bookcrossing.com/ I thought what would be good is to have part of it like the NAS free library, which is a collection of xeroxed pamphlets which are left for people to take.

I like the idea of having the lending element, because you are building up contacts, getting people's interest and so on. Sure, we'll lose some books, I don't think that should stop us! And also having a month limit might give people some urgency to reading the stuff. I think lending, but without expecting to get everything/anything back is the best we can hope for.

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darren p's picture
darren p
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Apr 16 2007 08:48
Quote:
I am very strongly anti Marx, not as a knee jerk, but as I see no point in reading about the dialectic, alienation and a load of theory. I'd rather people spent their time and intellect looking at how to build a decent workers movement, rather than how many petit bourgeois can dance on the head of a pin. Anyway, rest assured: any decisions as to contents of the library will be collective, and I'd personally favour there being a whole spectrum of socialist thought in there.

Surely part of building a decent workers movement is studying the struggles and theories of the past? How can you be "very strongly ant-Marx" If you have not read any?

The working class is NOT self-determining at the minute. Unless you see waged slavery, bourgeois democracy and an alienated existance as something the workers have chosen! If the workers ARE ALREADY self-determining than there is no need to "build a decent workers movement"!

For the record, I am not "very strongly anti" Anarchist. I am against dogmatic thinking. I am all for constructive critical discussion, which is something the library project has already started!

Ideology should be opposed not because Debord or Marx critisised it., but because it leads to heirarchical authoritarian social relationships.

best of luck.

PS. seems strange to me why someone who is opposed to reading "a load of theory" would want to start a library?

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rich
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Apr 16 2007 12:03

I have not read a full work of marx, I have read a fair amount about Marx in (sympathetic) introductions. I've also attended a course on Marxism (run by a Marxist), and my anti-Marx feeling still stands. Partly I am anti Marx because of his dreadful personal behaviour - his political efforts split and ultimately messed up the labour movement. Also, because he created a whole load of nonsense that can be debated ad nauseam. The way I see it the only theory you need is rationality: I don't see how you need Marx or anyone else to get to that point. In my observation of leftists, which has been over a period now of about 5 years, Marx is like a karate belt, if you've read Capital you go up a grade, if you understand the dialectic, up another. Then what do these fuckers do? Nothing.

The reason that capitalism thrives in the UK is that many people think it is best. While people who look at it from a different ideological standpoint suggest libertarian communism is better, the majority accept their lot. The fact that we like to think our ideas are better means we can call our movement a "workers movement", but any movement is a workers movement, because without the consent of the workers, it ain't happening. It is up to us, as proponents of our ideas to convince people of our ideas and spread them.

I am for discussion, but mostly of practical things! To me pressing questions and issues are things like: a) how to take libertarian ideas and make the jump from small disparate groups to being in a position to evict the boss class forever. b) the practical details involved in (a) Whenever I mention that I'd like to talk about this kind of thing I'm generally met with rolled eyes and "we talked about that last year". If we had the answers there would be visible growth in libertarian activity/strength. People seem to have a class struggle fatalism, which is that in downturns, there is an excuse - if we are part of a rational movement, the weather shouldn't stop us, the fact no one is on strike shouldn't stop us. I find the whole latching onto struggles a bit shady as well, but I can't be arsed to get into a row about it because it is currently part of the fashionable ideas.

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darren p's picture
darren p
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Apr 16 2007 14:41
Quote:
In my observation of leftists, which has been over a period now of about 5 years, Marx is like a karate belt, if you've read Capital you go up a grade, if you understand the dialectic, up another. Then what do these fuckers do? Nothing.

Agree. The inactivity of Marxist ideologues. There's a good article in the current issue of Aufheben which covers the problem... (Not online yet though).

You don't need to read Marx, but if you do you find some things he said useful, I have. To discount him on the strength of second-hand accounts and glib hearsay is a mistake.

"any movement is a workers movement" - by this definition fascism and religious extremism are workers movements because the bulk of its members come from the working class!

To the final bit, point a. You have to create a theory of how society is now and how it can be changed. This can only effectively done by looking at all the theories of the past and synthesising them with our experiences of the present - this is where dialectics comes in.

I have kept this short because I pressed for time!

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JimmyJazz
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Apr 26 2007 19:12

This is such a great idea. At the moment i don't have much access to reading material concerning anarchist ideology. This would be a very usefull tool for everyone trying to find out about it and it would espicielly help as im only 15 and don't really know much about it. And who really cares if people steal the books so long as the message is out there. I'm reling on you to actually do this. Go for it and dont worry about all the technical shit

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rich
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Apr 27 2007 04:22

Well if you have internet access there's quite a lot of info online! The library will have its first outing on May 12th at the Norwich Social Centre event at Workingmen's Club.