The Sparrows Nest

a Centre for Anarchist Culture and Education

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Welcome to The Sparrows' Nest, Nottingham

The Nottingham Spirit - talk by Ray Gosling - Saturday 13th June

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Ray Gosling, broadcaster, activist, journalist, free spirit and enthusiast for Nottingham came to talk to us at the Sparrows’ Nest on Saturday 13th June 2009. He spoke on The Nottingham Spirit: Yesterday - today - and for our tomorrows. Ray is author of, amongst others, Robin Hood Rides Again - a rebel scene in Anarchy 38 (1964); Sum Total, Faber, (1962); Saint Ann's, Nottingham Civic Society (1967); Personal Copy: A memoir of the sixties, Faber (1980).

The Nest was packed. It was our biggest event yet. In between wine and cake, we listened to Ray reminiscing, and learned some more about his early days and also about Nottingham, particularly St Anns, where Ray had close connections and campaigned vigorously during the time of redevelopment. Nottingham has always had a strong radical tradition, as Ray reminded us when talking about the Feargus O’Connor statue in the Arboretum.

We are very grateful to Ray for giving up his time for free to come to talk to us, and would also like to thank everyone who came to hear him. Now that you’ve been to the Nest once, perhaps you’d like to return and browse in the library?

Read more...
 

Visit to Library of the Free in Berlin, 10th April 2009

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On Friday 10th April, during the Berlin Anarchist Congress in Germany, some of The Sparrows’ Nest collective had the pleasure to visit, and be given a guided tour of, the Library of the Free (Bibliothek der Freien) with its extensive collection of anarchist publications in German and many other languages, including English. As well as the rarer and older material, we were also introduced to important new editions including a recently published Bakunin Almanac. In Berlin there is a specialist working group translating and publishing Bakunin’s writings, related letters and memoires into German, some not previously published in any language. There is also an interesting reader on anarchism in the USA since Seattle ’99 whose author is involved with the Alpine Anarchist website. These and other recommended new editions are available from the Bibliothek, but most importantly, thanks to a generous donation, they can now be read at The Sparrows’ Nest! During the visit we also picked up the latest issue of Abolishing the Borders from Below, an English-language magazine by and about anarchism in Eastern Europe and ex-Soviet Union countries who are also based in Berlin (read ABB review here), and many current German-language papers. They will all be catalogued soon but you can come and see them any time.
 

Opening times

Sparrow with bow and arrow

  • First & third Mondays of the month 11.15am to 2.30pm from July 6th & 20th, August 3rd & 17th etc.
  • Every Tuesday 2pm-6pm.
  • Every Thursday 2pm-9pm.

Just come along if you know where we are, otherwise please call first. Other days/times may be possible by arrangement.

ONLINE Catalogue: ANARCHIST BOOKS/PAMPHLETS. Over 1000 items in catalog.

Currently we are reference only (to read in library, sorry no loans). Many thanks for donations of book/mags/pamphlets to date.

APPEAL

We very much appreciate your donations to help maintain the library/archive & towards Sparrows' Nest running costs!

Please use the button below, or contact us. Many thanks!


About

The Sparrows' Nest was established by the Anarchist Federation’s Nottingham group with the involvement of other class struggle anarchists. It is a ‘Centre for Anarchist Culture and Education’, in a house, in St. Ann’s. The Library and Archive is our major project. We set it up to inform people about the ideology and history of Anarchism in its many forms, and about working class struggles in our region.