Book 28 Library London
A tiny queer utopia
In a tiny basement room just south of Borough Market stands Book 28 Library, a cosy retreat for London’s queer bookworms. The space is officially occupied by The Outside Project, an LGBTQ+ shelter and community centre, so alongside books and zines, you can expect to find free leaflets, refreshments and toiletries.
What really sets Book 28 apart, is their commitment to sourcing intersectional literature that would be unlikely to appear in your average public library. This makes for an unconventional, but rather pleasing, classification system. Categories include ‘Sunlight’ (for tales with happy endings), ‘Healing’ (for books on health, illness and recovery) and ‘Spirit’ (for stories of queer resistance and activism).
To join the library and start borrowing books, you’ll just need to provide a name and an email address. Loan periods are flexible, and there are no fines for overdue items. This would, after all, go against the core values of the institution. Those passing through London might prefer just to read in the lounge area for a few hours or drop by in the evening for book club meetings, author Q&As and queer theory discussions.
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