Visit Sixth St. Books & Cafe in San Francisco
Sixth St. Books & Cafe in San Francisco has recently opened and is available for use by social justice groups, and for hosting progressive speakers and/or educational presentations. There have already been a variety of events such as folk bands, a jazz trio, readings, a talk by journalist Robert Jensen, and an SF meeting/benefit for Anarchist People of Color. There is a free-use library and free internet access, as well as plenty of space for people to relax, talk, play chess, and so forth. Check it out: 144 6th St. (between Mission and Howard St.) San Francisco. Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. 415-626-8969.
Check out Chicago’s New World Resource Center
The New World Resource Center is Chicago’s oldest independent leftist bookstore. It has operated since 1972 as an all volunteer-run bookstore and community meeting space, stocking thousands of new and used volumes. The New World has moved many times in its life, but has always maintained an integrity of spirit and operation. Recently some of the volunteers banded together and bought a building to serve as the bookstore’s permanent home. If you’re in Chicago, visit them at 1300 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60622., (773)227-4011.
Danbury, CT infoshop finds new home
The Mad Hatters, aka, Danbury Independent Media Center and Infoshop of Danbury, CT has secured a new space after only being homeless for 2 months. They moved from their old space across from Western CT State Univ to the center of town. They are located between an all ages, no alcohol venue, the Empress Ballroom and the Hat City Ale House, where the local eclectics and activists hang out. The infoshop has a 1,500 + book lending library, progressive videos, various zines from around the US as well as progressive publications and a free DSL computer center. The space is also available for meetings. Visit them: 241 Main Street, 2nd floor, Suite 3 Danbury, CT 06810; Phone/Fax: 203-791-0284 www. madhattersimc.org
Arson destroys Canada’s Oldest Collectively-Run Radical Bookstore
Spartacus Books, Vancouver BC’s only non-profit, volunteer-run, radical bookstore burned to the ground April 25th when a fire tore through 311 W. Hastings St. Officials declared the cause of the fire to be arson after finding accelerant in the building. The bookstore did not have insurance and lost approximately $125,000 in inventory. Insurance premiums had risen to a level the store could not afford after 9/11.
“This is a terrible loss for the community. Spartacus Books was such a unique place.” comments Graham Sheard, bookstore coordinator. “It was organized entirely by volunteers and full of hard to find alternative resources. We were able to put information in the hands of thousands of people who would otherwise not have had access.” [Spartacus was Slingshot’s main distribution point in Vancouver.]
Spartacus Books was started in the early 1970s as a book-buying club of Simon Fraser University. It opened a storefront in 1973 on Hastings St and moved into 311 W. Hastings in 1974 where it has remained until the 3 alarm fire destroyed the building. Run by a collective of approximately 30 volunteers, Spartacus Books was open 365 days a year and catered to a wide variety of patrons.
“The diversity of people who came into the store was amazing,” says Alexander Daughtry, a longstanding volunteer who has been involved with Spartacus for the last 28 years. “You’d see university professors ordering books for their courses, anarchists putting on workshops, street kids using the free computers, students, parents and children, tourists who had heard of the store and had to come see it – there was something for everyone.”
At an emergency meeting on April 28th, the Spartacus collective decided to start from scratch and work to rebuild the bookstore. “We’re a community institution, a little fire can’t stop us,” said Alexander Daughtry. “But we need the support of the community in order to start over again.”
Donations can be made to the Spartacus Books Fund at the CECC Credit Union, 2250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver B.C. Send general mail to Spartacus Books, 2422 Main Street, Vancouver, BC Canada, V5T 3E2 or try 604.688.6138
Solidarity books in Indianapolis closes (?)
It looks like Solidarity books in Indianapolis has closed or moved and left no forwarding address. We have had mail returned from them and their phone # is disconnected. If you have any info, let us know.