About

Spring 2024 Update

After several conversations with neighbors, grown and young, we decided to relaunch The Rad Mini Library. The library was replaced with a better version from a friend - the library is now water-tight more structurally sound than the last one. 

Rad books for all reading levels are stocked, as well as period products, KN95 masks, other personal items and sometimes snacks. The treasure box has little surprises, for our younger neighbors and any grown up who needs a little joy!

During summer, Fresh Food Fridays will come back with produce from Hmong American Famer's Association and my garden.

October 2023 Update

The Rad Mini Library is more popular than ever - snacks leave within a few hours, personal items are constantly restocked, and the cooler is emptied every Free Fresh Food Friday. Unfortunately, The Rad Mini Library is now on an indefinite pause. There are a few factors for this.

One, I am personally running low on resources to constantly stock the library with snacks, personal care items, and rad books. I am grateful for the contributions from neighbors and friends, but the need is more than what we can all provide.

Second, the library has evolved into a free store, which has created a lot of trash. Unfortunately, the trash is being thrown up and down the block, which I regularly pick up.

Third, the vandalism today goes against the hope of the Rad Mini Library, which is to bring a little care, joy, and rad books to the community. Even though the prank isn't too terrible - 3 cans worth of tomato juice poured into the little treasure box - this isn't an act of care.

April 2023 Update

Minnesota is experiencing the effects of climate change, like everywhere, and our winter lasted several snowy and icy months and then was suddenly replaced by a week of 80 degree weather.

While it was cold, I constantly restocked the Rad Mini Library with high protein oatmeal cups, trail mix packs, and dry vegan soups. Neighbors needed nourishment. I added a constant supply of herbal teas, toothbrushes, tubes of tooth paste and hand warmers - essentials! While the rad books were taken consistently, our community responded to the basic necessities.

Now that I am not concerned about food freezing and cans exploding, I plan to add a variety of food, including fresh produce. I hope this blog will become a resource for folks who want to know what is in stock in the Rad Mini Library.

How it started vs How it's going: The Rad Mini Library

Back in January 2022 I tested an idea that initially failed — it was called the Rad Reads Share, a sort of lending library of radical books with themes of justice, anti-racism, abolition, decolonization, anti-capitalism, etc., The plan was to share my 20 books with a group of people and more books would join the circulation. This did not happen. All that came of it was an inventory list of my books….and the next idea.

By the spring of 2022, the Rad Mini Library was created to share radical books with the neighbors of the Longfellow / Hiawatha / East Lake / Howe communities. To make it fun, a little treasure box was added. The plan this time was to simply share the abundance.

I had no idea how the neighbors would respond, but I did not expect that in five months, the Rad Mini Library would distribute:

• 150 adult and youth books and magazines, the majority of which are written by and/or the main character is BIPOC, LGB2Q, transgender or non-binary, and/or disabled. The themes are radical and care-centric: anti-racism, anti-capitalism, etc.
• 40 pounds of produce from the local Hmong American Farmers Association or my backyard.
• Many KN95 masks, clothes, shoes.
• Dozens and dozens of toys and trinkets.

Then Comes Winter

As we entered the last months of 2022, I considered how the Rad Mini Library would adapt to the needs of the community. Some sources of inspiration included:

• Continue adding radical books and curating the library. We need to share information and learn, especially as major communication platforms are overtaken by pro-fascists. Inspiration: Kimberlé Crenshaw and The African American Policy Forum Books Unbanned project http://booksunbanned.org/
• Stock the library with food items throughout the winter and below-freezing temps. Food insecurity is a big problem, everywhere (this is one reason why food sovereignty is necessary). Inspiration: Freedges (free food fridges) like the project in Albany https://freefoodfridgealbany.com/
• Expand to include items that can be circulated - tools, recreation equipment, household items, etc. Inspiration: The People's Closet - a Mutual aid community and Black led clothing closet at George Floyd Square https://www.instagram.com/the_peoplescloset_
• Center mutual aid and neighbors. Inspiration: George Floyd Square (2.5 miles from the Rad Mini Library), Sanctuary Supply Depot - a central hub aimed at facilitating the collection and distribution of basic survival supplies for our unhoused neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot

Who am I?

My name is Becky (she/her), and I am a parent, maker, and worker in the land of the Anishinaabe and Dakota people currently known as Minneapolis.

"We are living in a world in which everybody and everything is interdependent." -- James Baldwin, National Press Club Speech, December 10, 1986