JUST BOOKS TO RELAUNCH AT NEW PREMISES

national | miscellaneous | event notice Sunday March 28, 2010 00:13 by Jason Brannigan - Just Books Collective justbooks at rocketmail dot com

Just Books will br having a bit of a relaunch/opening at 6pm on 1st April in our new premises at 13-15 Clarence Street, Belfast.

On Thursday 1st April, Just Book is holding its relaunch in new premises at 13-15 Clarence Street. This event will feature the launch of David Douglas’s new book “ Ghost Dancers.” David, who is a member of the National Union of Mineworkers in the Durham, writes firsthand about the last generation of miners and their Union. The release of “Ghost Dancers” coincides with 25th anniversary of the end of the miners’ strike.
Just Books was originally opened as a bookshop in June 1978, by the Belfast Anarchist Collective. It was, however, more than just a bookshop, the premises included a cafe and print workshop. It also provided a focal point for the collectives many activities until it’s closure sixteen years later in June 1994. Set up without any form of state subsidy or grant, money was raised through benefits, from interest free loans and donations from supporters. The location in Winetavern Street in the Smithfield area was significant:
“The location of the bookshop in the old Smithfield Market area of Belfast, at the bottom of the Shankill Road and the Falls Road, was important to the anarchists who set up Just Books in that they wished the building to be accessible to people from all communities”1.
Since its formation Just Books has included a library, the Print Workshop, a meeting and exhibition space, the Hideout Café, Belfast Independent Video, Belfast Unemployed Group and Women's News office.

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Just Books was a victim of the general decline of the Smithfield area, following the 1986 development of Castlecourt, and closed its doors in 1994, proclaiming that “16 years of providing an invaluable service to the community and being a focus for social change and revolutionary ideas is something to celebrate.”2
After this closure, The Just Books collective appeared to be out of action for a while but in recent years has hosted events and provided bookstalls at the Belfast May Day celebrations (St. George's Market), at numerous Grassroots Gatherings, and at various bookfairs in Ireland and England.
While based in Lombard Street, Just Books expanded its range of titles and currently carry stock dealing with Irish history, labour history, sex and sexuality, global development and exploitation, progressive politics, current affairs and environmental issues. A small multi-lingual library has also been built up, designed to be of use to labour and community activists, which includes a broad selection of historical, progressive political, feminist and environmental publications.
The Launch of the new premises at 13-15 Clarence Street, will take place from 6pm on Thursday 1st April and David’s Douglas’s book launch begins at 7pm. Come along and see what books and magazines are in store. Suggestions for other titles are welcomed.
END.
References
1) Elaine, Just Books 10th Birthday. Women’s News, 1988.
2) Just Books Spokesperson, Market to close if shoppers don’t return. Bookshop goes under as Smithfield crisis deepens. Anderstonstown News, 04/06/94.