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​About the Library

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'Ancestors' ink flows
Canvas hums with soul and strength
New stories take root'.

Preserving Black British Heritage, Empowering Communities

Phrase 1: 2024 -2028

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The Benjamin Zephaniah Library is an academic and community library dedicated to Black British art, African diaspora heritage, poetry, and cultural studies. We're building a vital resource that preserves grassroots knowledge and makes it accessible to scholars, artists, students, and community members.

Our Mission: To create a comprehensive archive of Black British creative and cultural knowledge—from celebrated publications to grassroots pamphlets—and make these resources freely available to our community.

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What Makes Us Unique: Unlike mainstream libraries, we specialise in:

  • Black British visual art and poetry

  • African diaspora cultural studies

  • Grassroots and self-published works

  • Contemporary Black British artists and writers

  • Caribbean and Afro-Latino art history

  • Hard-to-find specialist texts

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We don't just house books—we're an active research hub where education, art, and community meet.

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Our Collection:

 

Our growing collection includes

  • Art history and theory

  • Poetry collections

  • Cultural studies

  • Exhibition catalogues

  • Artist monographs

  • Grassroots publications

  • Academic research

  • Children's books celebrating Black heritage

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What We Offer:

Book Loans: Schools, community centres, and individuals can borrow books from our collection. Learn more about borrowing.

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Research Support: Students and researchers can access our collection for academic projects exploring Black British art and heritage.

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Educational Classes We run workshops and classes using our collection to teach Black British history, art appreciation, and cultural literacy.

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Archival Preservation We preserve grassroots publications and self-published works that might otherwise be lost.

Community Space A welcoming environment where Black British stories are centered and celebrated.

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'Shelves hold quiet flames
Spines bound in struggle and pride
Each page turns a tide'.

Benefits of Reading 

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  • Affirmation & Identity: Seeing your own experiences, history, and culture reflected in literature validates identity and builds self-worth.

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  • Critical Consciousness: Reading diverse perspectives, especially about social structures, sharpens critical thinking and fosters empowerment.

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  • Tool for Mental Wellbeing: Stories provide escape, reduce stress, and exploring narratives of resilience can be a source of strength and solace.

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  • Community & Dialogue: Shared books create common ground, sparking vital conversations that strengthen bonds and foster collective understanding.

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'Fingertips trace roads
From bondage to boundless thought
Free minds claim their wings'.

​Opening Timeline:

  • October 2026: Fundraising campaign relaunched 

  • August 2027: Digital archive website development begins

  • June 2028: Online library with lending facilities launches

  • July 2028: First major research project commences

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Support Our Work:

​We're fundraising for £35,000 to secure a community space for 3 years and purchase additional books and learning materials.

 

Every donation helps us preserve Black British heritage for future generations.​

 

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