“La Libre Stays”: Community Crowdfunding Secures Bookstore’s Future

The self-managed project La Libre has launched a crowdfunding campaign under the slogan “La Libre stays,” with the aim of raising funds to cover the purchase of the premises it has occupied since 2009. The initiative comes after the bookstore managed to avoid eviction thanks to the financial support of people linked to the project.

The campaign, which begins on May 1st and will run for approximately 45 days—until June 20th—aims to raise around €100,000. This amount represents the remaining balance of the property’s cost after its acquisition, financed through interest-free loans generously provided by people close to the bookstore. The immediate goal is to repay this money “as quickly as possible,” as explained by spokespeople at a press conference.

The group that manages La Libre emphasizes that the campaign is not simply a fundraiser, but rather aims to strengthen the social fabric that sustains the project. In this regard, they are appealing to the public not only to contribute financially, but also to spread the word about the initiative and participate in the activities held at the bookstore. “It’s not just a bookstore, it’s a network,” they stated.

The launch of the crowdfunding campaign comes after months of uncertainty, following the announcement last December that the premises were to be sold. Faced with the difficulty of meeting market prices or finding an alternative space with similar characteristics, the group opted to pursue a community-based solution that has ultimately ensured the project’s continuity in its current location.

La Libre: 25 years of free culture

With over 25 years of history, La Libre has established itself as a landmark space in the city, hosting meetings, cultural activities, and gatherings of diverse social groups. Its operating model, based on self-management and volunteer work, sets it apart from typical commercial practices, promoting an “accessible and critical” culture where “all activities are free: nobody charges, nobody pays,” they emphasized.

La Libre stays: a self-managed bookstore in Santander avoids ‘eviction’ thanks to donations

La Libre stays: a self-managed bookstore in Santander avoids ‘eviction’ thanks to donations
The crowdfunding campaign marks a new chapter in the project’s history, driven by the need to ensure its long-term sustainability. In addition to direct donations, the collective has announced the organization of activities and events aimed at raising funds and increasing the initiative’s visibility, in an effort to broaden its support base.

Loan repayments and the upkeep of the space now depend largely on the public response to this campaign. As they concluded, it’s about “maintaining and sustaining a collective project” that they consider fundamental to the cultural and social life of Santander.

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(Featured image by John Michael Thomson via Unsplash)

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First published in elDiario.es. A third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

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