A Sharing Library – #BuyABandABookDay

As you know, I’m always really keen for our community and band members to self-educate. I think it’s important that we know we come from in order to know where we want to go.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana

With that in mind, I’m delighted to support this project by Belfast Books.

They will soon be starting to advertise their project which aims to either start a small library for band members or add to an existing library.

They will be asking people to buy books that we feel will be of interest to bands from the PUL Community. The shop will then forward the books free of charge onto a band or band hall.

Their aim is to promote reading, education and positive mental health and also help to enable members to push back on the myth that loyalist band members are uneducated and unaware and uninterested in their history. I see it all too often on social media, where members of our community essentially lose debates due to lack of historical knowledge.

Belfast Books are based at 112 York Rd, near where the old Grove Baths was. As well as promoting reading and literature in the lower north Belfast area, they are active in community development and activism in Tigers Bay. Some Republicans and Alliance types have been boycotting the shop since 2019 when the shop publicly stood up for loyalist culture.

I’ve purchased from their site myself before and can assure of prompt and speedy delivery, as well as excellent service.

If you’d like to hear more about the project and get involved – either by purchasing books or starting a sharing library in your hall, you can contact them via their business WhatsApp on 07814 422231