Collective

La Libre

This video has timestamped descriptions to allow viewers to jump to particular topics and sections. Links will open the video in YouTube.
Who are you and what connection do you have with La Libre (meaning literally “The Free”)? 0:23
Why the name La Libre? What’s the story behind this project? 02:57
According to your definition, La Libre is an “alternative bookstore,” an “associative bookstore,” a “self-managed social center,” “a meeting and activity place,” “a collective,” “a cultural association.” What legal entity have you chosen and why?  4:09
What is the relationship between La Libre and the government? 6:30
What problems have you encountered during the process of becoming established? 7:23
For many collectives with which I have spoken, the 15M, the anti-austerity movement in Spain, has meant a time of reorganization, reinvention, and strengthening. What has this movement meant for La Libre? 7:58
We are talking about a “collective,” “a space or zone of crossing and contact,” “a bookstore,” “a free store,” “a library,” and “a collective process.” How do you weave together the internal functioning of these dimensions or spheres of action? What is decision-making like? 10:05
Among the processes of La Libre, you have several initiatives and different activities of your own. Are there people who work for a wage on this project? Why or why not? What does “work” mean for La Libre? What work philosophy is practiced? 12:54
Does La Libre collaborate with other collectives or social enterprises? 16:11
In the description that you have on your website about your concepts and tools, you speak about “promoting non-mercantilist social ideas.” What social ideas are you talking about? 18:36
You believe in the “collective construction of alternatives.” What kind of alternatives are we talking about? 20:25
You talk about “creating tools to take apart and put together the world” and the collective is emphasized in the face of capitalist individualism. What does La Libre mean by “the common” and “the public?” 22:16
You work to “raise questions and concerns.” Could you explain what questions and concerns you are referring to? 24:42
This project does not receive government subsidies and is supported autonomously and through members. Who are these people and what do they contribute? 25:47
You write on the web: “Here culture is not a consumer good but rather a movement of ideas and proposals.” How does La Libre understand culture? What culture are you talking about? 27:34
What are the cultural references of La Libre? 30:04
How does La Libre include the cultural diversity of migrants from the neighborhood? 31:42
What kind of materials does La Libre receive? What selection criteria for books do you use? What are the red lines? 34:07
Would you say that La Libre is, in some way, a project of non-formal education for citizens? 36:50
Obviously, we are looking at a political project, but what politics are we talking about? 39:04
What is La Libre’s opinion about current cultural and educational policies? 41:20
What would be characteristic of the activities organized by La Libre? 44:13
What is a free store? 45:05
What are the advantages of creating a bookstore-social center? 46:37
Given the precarious climate and political hostility, could you tell us what keeps alive the engine of the hope of La Libre?47:39
What does it mean for La Libre to grow in non-capitalist terms? 50:45

La Libre is an alternative bookstore. From our subversive shelves, we spread and distribute titles, materials, and information critical of the establishment, promoting social alternatives rather than commercial ones. As a Self-Managed Social Center, La Libre is an open space where we self-manage our culture, information, contacts, and way of organizing– a free and collective life.

We are a node of connection between diverse people in interested in and involved with social topics. We organize screenings, talks, recitals, book talks, workshops, small expositions, etc. Here culture is not a good to be consumed, it’s a movement of ideas and proposals. For that reason we are also a Librería Asociativa (Associative Bookstore). The project is self-managed through a horizontally-organized assembly consisting of a dozen participants. However, adventure is only possible through collaboration with many others. This is an autonomous initiative, it does not receive any grants. It is not a profitable activity. The money earned from selling materials and the contributions of members go entirely to maintaining La Libre, none of those working for the organization receive any kind of economic compensation. Source

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