It started innocently enough. A place where the demonstrators and occupiers could feed their mind while they did their duty to try and bring about a just, sane society.
Before long the smattering of books had evolved into a fully-functioning public library. Books were coming from everywhere, there were readings, events and even a reference desk to help with the most basic and complex questions. It was a library that would have made Andrew Carnegie proud. Carnegie, whose gracious donations were responsible for the building of over 2500 libraries in the late 19th early 20th century, believed that giving to the “industrious and ambitious; not those who need everything done for them, but those who, being most anxious and able to help themselves, deserve and will be benefited by help from others.” In other words the 99%!
When I first wrote about the People’s Library at the end of September I said:
“I am hoping that there is a librarian amongst them who can catalog the entire contents of the library so that it can be used as a starting point for similar events in the future and of course, simply for the historical record”
It wasn’t long before all my hopes came true. Through their unending passion for books, justice and democracy a slew of volunteer librarians had pulled it off! All 5,500+ books that were contained or had passed through the library are now documented on LibraryThing. It seemed at times that the feats of the People’s Library and their sister libraries that were popping up around the world were getting as much attention as the Occupy Movement itself. There was so much for all of us with the book gene to be proud of. It was almost too good to be true.
And it was.
In the dark of night on November 15th the People’s Library at Occupy Wall Street was destroyed. A public library in a so-called democratic society completely destroyed in a coordinated, deliberate and intentional fashion.
The day is destined to live on in infamy and Mayor Bloomberg will rightly take his place next to Hitler, whose coordinated book attacks in May of 1933 attempted to silence the opposition.
In an effort to stem the backlash Mayor Bloomberg’s office tweeted the following:
Though clearly the picture doesn’t show everything contained in the library, a collective sigh of relief filled the air. Of course, those first stories couldn’t have been true. There was no way that anyone in their right mind would completely destroy a library under the guise of needing to do a little sanitary and fire prevention work in the area.
Earlier today a few volunteers went to retrieve what remained. Armed with this list of the contents of the People’s Library:
- Between 2,000 and 4,000 books (we’ll know if it looks right when we see it ), this includes five boxes of “Reference” materials many of which were autographed by the authors;
- Our custom made “OWS library stamps;”
- 5 (4?) laptop computers;
- Our wifi device;
- miscellaneous paper supplies;
- A round portable table;
- a rectangular portable table;
- 6 metal shelves (five of which had been set up in two pieces);
- three sets of wooden drawers;
- a periodicals spinning rack;
- Approximately 60 plastic tubs/bins of varying sizes (most small, but several big);
- archival materials (I was starting to collect some stuff in the library);
- posters (including many original posters created by OWS participants);
- two lamps;
- four solar lights;
- 7 (or so) chairs;
- a wooden dinner table (that was our’s right?);
- periodicals/newspapers/zines (not counted in our book total);
- our awesome tent;
- signage;
- personal belongings of librarians;
and what did they find?
“There are only about 25 boxes of books; many of the books are destroyed. Laptops here but destroyed. Can’t find tent or shelves.”
“Many books destroyed. Most equipment -and structures missing. . . most of library is missing (ALL of the reference section btw), damaged or destroyed.”
and they took a picture of this damaged Bible.
Just imagine if the destruction of this Bible was carried out by the protestors.
Then, like a phoenix rising from the flames, came this tweet from @ANIMALNewYork soon after the protestors were allowed back in to Zuccotti Park:
Someone just put down one book in the area where the People’s Library used to be and declares, “We have a library.” #ows
and here is an image:
Keep hope alive!