Distributed Library

Please take care of our books.

28 Jan 2008
29 Jan 2008

Mediamatic gave away all its books. We distributed our library in protest to skimpy Dutch art funding policy making practices. The way it's going, we won't be able to take care of our library ourselves anymore. So we've asked our audience to take over the responsibility.

All members of the mediamatic.net community (new and old) could pick up their favorite books for free. You just had to publish the ownership on your profile alongside a picture and a small description. And promise that you will always honor a lending request from an other community member. Et voilá, a distributed library.


Browse the collection
Read the rules here
and watch a filmed impression (dutch language) of the first day by Parool TV's Jelle de Gee:

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08-06-2008 Taking books - Distributed Library - When the Distributed Library opened, hundreds of members of the Mediamatic community dropped by to pick up their favorite titles. The books were linked to their profiles. Hundreds of members of the Mediamatic community came the first day to meet and pick up their favorite titles. Jun 08: Protesting the impasse between the Raad van Cultuur and Minister Plasterk concerning cultural subsidies, Mediamatic decided to give away all her books. The public was invited to come and have their pick from… Willem Velthoven

With: Aida Asady

Some video of day 1:

 

First come, first served. We have a library with thousands of books, magazines and multimedia. And there will be a bookbar and some music.

Location

Mediamatic office, Post CS building, Oosterdokskade 5, fifth floor
(the very last time in the Post CS, next month we will open at a new location....)

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Melancholy in the Library (before distribution) - We're having a last look into our books before giving them away on Saturday 28 June 2008. We're grateful for our friends that will take care of them. A last look in our books at the mediamatic library in PostCS, AMsterdam The days before the bookfest everything seems to be in order... Willem Velthoven

With: Arjan Scherpenisse, Deborah M. Kōdō, Katja Novitskova, Michel Langendijk, Tim Benniks, Ino Paap, Ana, sandra, Bram Loogman
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Mediamatic Library after 1 day of distribution - We've given away 70% of our books in 1 day to the members of the Mediamatic social network. Willem Velthoven

With: uɐɯʞuǝɯ ɐsoɹ, Anne Helmond, Laura, Michael Stevenson, Michel Langendijk, Jans Possel, Annet Schut, Bram Loogman
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Dwaze dagen / Invasion of the book worms at the Mediamatic Distrubuted Library Fest. - 28 en 29 juni 2008: Als protestactie tegen het huidige kunstsubsidiebeleid besluit Mediamatic van haar bibliotheek een gedistribueerde bibliotheek te maken. Alle leden van mediamatic.net en alle bezoekers die zich aanmeldden konden gratis hun favoriete boeken komen ophalen. Het enige voorwaarde is dat je het boek koppelt aan je online profiel en je belooft dat je het uitleent als een ander lid er om vraagt. Via de Mediamatic website kan contact worden gelegd tussen boekenliefhebbers en over het…

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I saw it First! - Wow! there's that vintage copy of Parkett Magazine is was missing! Willem Velthoven

With: tjerk timan
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Long queues at the check out. - We had four skilled librarians working very hard but the turn out was just too overwhelming at the Mediamatic Distributed Library Fest. Willem Velthoven

With: Laura, uɐɯʞuǝɯ ɐsoɹ, Katja Novitskova,
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But why stand in line if you can read? - Many visitors spent hours reading before they made their final choice from the Mediamatic Distributed Library. Willem Velthoven

With: Jans Possel
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New members of Mediamatic.net were making their profiles on site. -

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Not enough chairs? no problem. We can read on the floor. - Director Jans Possel is very happy with the crowd that came to collect our old media at the Mediamatic Distributed Library Fest. Willem Velthoven

With: Jans Possel
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I youst found a vintage VOLVO CD-rom at the Mediamatic distributed library fest! - Texting home about the best finds on the saturday afternoon.

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Old media is heavvy! - Argentinian artist Aimée Zito Lema (of Gastarbeider fame) selected a few years of the dutch art magazine Metropolis M at the distributed library fest. Now that's "inburgering" the Mediamatic way! Willem Velthoven

With: François Dey,
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Browsing books on the Mediamatic site may be better for your neck. - Tjerk seems very relaxed though, while he is browsing our physical library for the last time...

With: tjerk timan