About this project
"No one founded the library. The library founded itself."
- Jaime Taylor, librarian, People's Library, Occupy Wall Street
About Take This Book
This is one story of the People's Library at Occupy Wall Street, as told to me by many of the librarians behind it: how the library began, what happened after the November 15 raid on Zuccotti Park, and why they're rebuilding. It's a story about books, danger, and freedom.
Take This Book is an extended essay -- just over 10,000 words -- based on the stories of the librarians and the library's patrons. (Maybe you were one of them.) It can't be the whole story, because it's still happening.
About this project
Update: an excerpt from Take This Book was published at Rhizome
Take This Book is ready to publish, and as soon as this project is fully funded, I will release the digital edition (in epub and Kindle formats) to all backers. Then, Glass Houses (my media label) will publish the print edition, to be released in February 2012. Funds raised will go to the production of the book, as well as the cost of mailing it to Occupy sites across the world.
By backing this project, you are pre-ordering a digital or print copy. And you will ensure that the print edition of this book is available for free to every Occupy library we can find.
About the author
I'm a writer and the founder of Glass Houses, a media label. I've contributed to Alternet, The Guardian, The New York Observer, Rhizome, Jezebel, and numerous other publications. I've been writing and reporting on Occupy Wall Street since September 2011.
With Glass Houses, I make books. In 2010, I published and co-edited Coming & Crying, a collection of true stories about sex (backed generously by 651 people, through Kickstarter).
Thanks
To Sarah Jaffe and Meredith Clark and Joanne McNeil. To Emma Gross. To Paige Saez. To Jeff Sharlet. To Molly Crabapple. To all the Occupy librarians.
Video Credits
Additional footage: OWSLibrary, OccupyTVNY, Ocupaniuyor
Music: The Harlem Hot Chocolates, "St. James Infirmary"
FAQ
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As soon as we hit the project goal, all backers will receive the digital edition of Take This Book -- even if the project funding period hasn't ended yet.
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Probably! Glass Houses is working with a US-based, 100%-employee-owned book printing company, who were also the first book manufacturer to join the Green Press Initiative. You'll also be able to read an eco-audit about the book's environmental footprint.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
283
Backers
$10,838
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on December 31.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
Access to backer-only project updates & the first ebook edition (Kindle and epub).
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
All of the above, & a thank-you postcard from me.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
All of the above, & a copy of the print edition will be inscribed with your name and donated on your behalf to an Occupy library.
Pledge $40 or more Pledge $40 or more
All of the above, & your own copy of the print edition mailed to you (US backers)
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
All of the above, & your own copy of the print edition mailed to you (outside US backers)
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
All of the above, & you will be acknowledged by name in the print edition as a patron (and with a personal inscription from me).
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All of the above, & a signed and numbered "People's Library" print from artist Molly Crabapple.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All of the above, & a handwritten letter from me to thank you.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
All of the above, & a limited edition print zine with more stories that didn't quite make it in.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
All of the above, in a lovely custom box (along with more strange ephemera from the reporting and time of this story).
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
All of the above, & I'll come to you for a reading for you and your friends who like books and have feelings about them (in the United States).
Project By
Connected as Melissa Gira Grant (727 friends)
Writer. Founder of Glass Houses, a media label based in New York and on the internet. Publisher and co-editor, Coming & Crying.
