Just Books Launch Online Bookshop

national | miscellaneous | event notice Thursday July 06, 2006 00:00 by Jason - Just Books Collective jst_books at yahoo dot co dot uk P.O. Box 505, Belfast, BT12 6BQ.

7.30pm at the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre, Lower Donegall Street, Belfast.

On 19th of July 2006, the 70th anniversary of the 1936 workers revolution that initially defeated the fascist rising across much of Spain, the Just Books collective will launch its new online bookshop.

On 19th of July 2006, the 70th anniversary of the 1936 workers revolution that initially defeated the fascist rising across much of Spain, the Just Books collective will launch its new online bookshop.

Just Books has a history in Belfast that stretches back to the opening of the original Smithfield shop in June 1978 by the Belfast Anarchist Collective. While the shop closed its doors in June 1994 the Just Books Collective has continued to provide stalls at events such as grassroots gatherings and at Belfasts annual St. Georges market May Day celebrations.

The new online Just Books carries titles on a wide range of topics such as: Irish and international labour history, anarchism, anti-capitalism, feminism, communism, socialism, sex and sexuality, current affairs, globalisation, the environment, labour legislation and more.

In the longer term we see the setting up of this website as part of a project to create a labour resource and solidarity centre in Belfast that will incorporate accessible resources and information for workers in struggle - in a premises providing a multi-lingual resource library, a bookshop, meeting space, internet access and a coffee shop. Ideally we would also like to include a projector for showing films. This will provide much needed resources and solidarity for workers in struggle. We hope to open the centre as a practical commemoration of the Spanish Revolution.

MULTI-LINGUAL RESOURCE LIBRARY

We have already started collecting titles for a resource library. Titles so far are available on a range of topics including books, pamphlets and magazines on labour legislation, labour history, anarchism, socialism, feminism, the environment, social movements and current affairs. The bulk of titles collected so far are in Spanish and English and we welcome the donation of titles in other languages. In particular we want to make available books, pamphlets and magazines that would be valuable to shop stewards and other working people, and as a resource for others concerned with tackling exploitation and oppression both local and globally, in the workplace and beyond.

MEETING SPACE

Providing accessible social and meeting space is also important to this project. We hope that such a space will incorporate a coffee shop and facilities for film showings and educational events, meetings and seminars. This should be an environment in which, formally or informally, ideas can be discussed, solidarity built and educational events take place.

INTERNET ACCESS

The centre will also provide 6 pc’s with internet access and links to labour, union and other valuable resources. Desktop publishing, printing and copying facilities will also be provided.

Like the original Just Books we are aiming towards something which is much more than just a bookshop. The original premises included a cafe and print workshop and provided a focal point for the collective's many activities until it closed sixteen years later in June 1994. Set up without any form of state subsidy or grant money was raised through running benefits, from interest free loans and donations from supporters. Just Books has always been run on a self managed basis with collective decision making at its core. Currently a voluntary collective we hope to establish the centre as a workers co-operative.

TOWARDS A NEW PREMISES

In order to realise this project, to build on the July 2006 launch of our website and have things up and running as a practical commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Spanish Revolution, we need your support.

SUPPORT JUST BOOKS

· Make a donation: we are currently seeking supporters/friends of Just Books donations of £50.00/75.00Euro. Money raised from these donations will go directly into building towards the opening of a premises in Belfast.

· Get your Union branch or organisation to make a donation. We believe this project will be valuable in assisting effective workplace organisation and strengthening links between workers across and within industries. Ask your union branch or organisation to support us in this and to support the strengthening of working class solidarity and education.

· Donate books to our multi-lingual resource library - hundreds of titles have already been collected.

· Buy merchandise from the Just Books Collective: at present we are selling a range of fundraising merchandise check the P.O. Box address below or email us for details.

· Come to one of our fundraising events or better still put on a fundraising event for us. If you are in Ireland request a Just Books collective stall at your event.

CONTACT US AT:

Just Books Collective
P.O. Box 505,
Belfast.
BT12 6BQ.
Email: jst_books@yahoo.co.uk