The Papercut Zine Library needs a new home!
Per an email message I received via the Zine Librarians list, also posted on their MySpace blog:
Dear loyal patrons,
After over four and a half years of being hosted at 45 Mt. Auburn (currently known as the Democracy Center), we are being asked to vacate the premises by August 15th.
Many of you know that the Democracy Center is in a very serious financial situation. The folks at the center are working very hard in order to not shut down, but unfortunately we don't seem to fit in with the plan as the current public face of the center.
So we need your help! While we are being realistic and don't expect that we can shift smoothly from one space to another, and understand that we will probably have to take a hiatus from being open for awhile, we also
know that YOU, our patrons, are our best resources. You know people! You have connections! So please please please wrack your brains for contacts, spaces, and ideas that might help us out.
To give you a starting point, we need the following:
-at least 180 square feet of space for our shelving, operations desk and reading area
-a location somewhat accessible to subway, bus, car, bicycle and/or foot
We are open to either of the following:
-being hosted in an already existing arts/community/library/radical/activist/organizing space
-renting an available (LOW COST) commercial space
Our absolute requirement is that the freedom to make decisions about the library's internal operation stay within our collective. That is, we are not interested in another library absorbing our collective if it means the collective will not be involved.
What Papercut Zine Library can offer to potential shared spaces is clear.
Our greatest strength is in our phonebook: we have an enviable web of contacts glad to offer time, knowledge or networking to solve problems or enrich lives. We will also draw new users to the space over time simply
by being in the space. The library itself contains useful information, entertaining reading and insightful commentary. The librarians at Papercut are highly principled and will not violate any space's or organization's ethical standards or attempt to evade practical responsibilities.
Please let us know if you have any ideas. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
the Papercut Zine Library collective