1in12 Library Collective

Opened in 1996 by veteran anarchist Albert Meltzer, the 1in12 Library continues to curate a sizeable collection of literature, and also to maintain the space which plays host (in addition to the book-related activities) to films, meetings, internet access and meals.

And cake.



Internet facilities are mainly concerned with accessing the catalogue at LibraryThing (more later - see below), though for many club members access to social networking websites seems to be the principal attraction. Hey ho. It's probably worth mentioning here that the club lacks a genuine IT geek and has assembled the present facilities through a process of faintly bewildered people reading instructions on the internet over and over again until they have a sufficient (and momentary) understanding of networking (or whatever) to complete the task in hand. We believe, for example, that it is possible to install Linux on the cheap and plentiful iMac collection. But we're too dim to accomplish it, thus far.



1in12 Cinema
Film nights have been a great success in 2008, thanks to a projector from Freecycle and an old school projector screen. Obviously we specialise in documentary/educational material and various non-copyright footage that you might not see elsewhere, because we just don't want the hassle (or see the point) of showing commercial movies. Having said which, we do have certification to show conventional videos and DVDs....we just can't promote them. If you want to show a film, and want to know the legalities, follow this link. The Library is not well heated. Dress up warm if you intend to sit still for a couple of hours during the winter months, watching a film (or reading).



Cataloguing

We generally meet fortnightly on Thursdays from about 8.30 - 10.30 in an attempt to catalogue the books and journals, and deal with the inevitable mess which will have accumulated in the preceding 13 days.

Check the event listings here to see which Thursday is meeting day. We also aim to be open as part of the cafe opening hours on Saturdays from 12.00 to 5.00, though due to repeated misuse of the kitchen the cafe volunteers have all thrown in the towel in the last few weeks of 2008. Perhaps in 2009 they will have another go.

We regard access to the collection as an important matter: people give us their books in the hope that they will be read, rather than just collecting dust.  So turning up for a couple of hours on a Saturday or Thursday evening, even if you just hang out, is playing a vital part in keeping the library open. Better yet, get involved in the cataloguing. If you don't find a book you desperately want to read while you're at it you are an odd fish indeed.

The catalogue is held online on a system called LibraryThing (catalogue  / profile) which means you can check if we have a book before you start to look for it. If you have an internet-capable mobile phone you can even check while you're in the bookshop (see here for a demonstration - the user name is 1in12Library) so as not to squander your funds on a book you can read at t'1in12. Buy something else instead then give it to us when you've read it.

Music

Provided the space is used responsibly, members are welcome to put on music in the library. The cinema sound system is a couple of hundred watts and has a mixer attached, although unplugged probably works best. There's a big room downstairs for the noisy stuff.



Meals/Socials



We can't take too much credit for it, but as we share a space with the cafe collective it would be remiss to fail to mention the opportunities for cuisine on the top floor. Often the cafe types dish up "filling" food for those occasions when there's a busy gig downstairs, and people have travelled, and don't wish to try their luck finding vegan food in the city centre. But then, periodically, some complicated food with starters and everything will get served up by some real cookery types. Credit here, then, to the 1in12 Peasant's Collective (who actually grow some of the stuff), Bradford Language Exchange, Treehouse Cafe and, memorably, The Cunningham Amendment (even more notable for their very fine publications, which we jealously treasure) who provided waiter service and kept topping up the under-librarian's-sidekick's glass.

We like to think that, somehow, looking after the books and journals keeps alive the possibility of these events to taking place in a space which, despite showing all the signs of wanting to collapse into something resembling a tabloid editor's idea of anarchy, actually has sufficient energy and organisation put into it to represent our own vision of that dangerous idea.



Talks/Reading Groups/Creative Writing

We've had some great talks by visiting speakers over the past few years, and we think the library is a great space for this. Doubtless there'll be more in the years to come. We have had people enquiring about reading groups and creative writing. Obviously we wish to encourage all these things. But if you want them to happen, you'll have to do the leg work as the present collective is low in numbers and time. Pick up a membership form, attend a few meetings, and get your hand on the levers of (word) power.

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All of these endeavours are works in progress, we thank you for your encouragement and request your forebearance.

Thanks

*the cafe is closed in December 2008 - will reopen Saturdays in January, volunteers permitting.