Did you know that there is a hidden library built into the main cabinet of What Do We Have In Common? Every day, the Guides remove six books to share and discuss with visitors. From classic titles like Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass to newer books written in Spanish like Los (bienes) comunes: ¿Oportunidad o espejismo? to books that help us understand history in a new way like An indigenous People's History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. Other titles include:
Banner, Stuart. Who Owns the Sky?
Bauwens, Michel, et al. Peer to Peer: The Commons Manifesto. London, University of Westminster Press, 2019.
Dockx, Nico & Pascal Gielen (.eds). Commonism: A New Aesthetics of the Real. Valiz, 2018.
Federici, Silvia. Re-enchanting the World: Feminism and the Politics of the Commons. Oakland, PM Press, 2018.
Harney, Stefano & Fred Moten. The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black Study. New York: Minor Compositions, 2013.
Kohn, Margaret. Brave New Neighborhoods: The Privatization of Public Space. Routledge 2004.
Menzies, Heather. Reclaiming the Commons for the Common Good
Olivera, Oscar. ¡Cochabamba! Water War in Bolivia
Silverman, David J. This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving
Ostrom, Elinor. The Future of the Commons: Beyond Market Failure and Government Regulation. The Institute of Economic Affairs. 2012.
Winchester, Simon. Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World. Harper 2020?
We have books for readers of all ages including copies of Who Owns the Sun for readers both young and young at heart.
Guide slandie considers the question “Who owns the libraries?” with a visitor.
Have any book recommendations for us? Who does own libraries? Share your thoughts below and tag us on social media with #InCommonBOS.
Photo above provided by Susan Collings (c).