Alternative Library
About
The QPIRG-McGill Alternative Library is a community library and archive of radical materials in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal). It is dedicated to lending and archiving rare, independently published, formally unconventional, and intellectually marginalized books, periodicals, media, and zines that contribute to QPIRG-McGill’s anti-oppression mandate and support its working groups. The library also promotes creative solutions to justice issues through its skill-sharing activities, community-building projects, and educational resources.
Catalogue
The Alternative Library shares an online catalogue with other alternative libraries and community organizations in Montréal.
How to browse the catalogue
- Go to the “Search Catalogue” tab in the link above
- Choose “QPIRG-McGill” among the branches
- Enter search phrases into the grey bar
Tip: Click on the drop-down menu “Default” and choose “Title”, “Author”, or any field for a specific search query.
User Guide
Check out materials
Books and zines are free to borrow home. Archival materials, such as periodicals and loose leaf documents, and media, such as CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes, are available for research purposes and on-site consultation only. For help with research, contact us via email: library@qpirgmcgill.org.
Returns
No strict borrowing duration, although we would appreciate it if you could return borrowed materials within 2 months.
To return materials, drop them into the “Return” box located in the library or hand them to an on-site library volunteer. No need to fill out any form.
Suggest a purchase
To suggest materials for the library, please fill out the form linked below.
As part of our Free Textbook Loan Program, we encourage suggestions of textbooks and course materials. All students in Montréal are welcomed regardless of school or level, although requests from McGill University students are prioritized. All textbook suggestions are welcomed regardless of their relevance to social and environmental justice.
Donate
To donate books, zines, or other materials related to social and environmental justice, send us an email at library@qpirgmcgill.org or drop by the library. We do not accept unsolicited, unannounced donations.
As part of our Free Textbook Loan Program, we encourage donations of textbooks and course materials. For each accepted textbook, you receive modest compensation in return (1 book = $5 in cash). To donate textbooks and course materials, visit the FTLP page here.
Library Projects
Free Textbook Loan Program
The Free Textbook Loan Program is a student-led initiative of QPIRG-McGill Alternative Library. Students donate their textbooks to QPIRG-McGill in return for a modest compensation. Every semester, we lend these books out free of charge to students upon request, with extended borrowing periods. We aim to address the lack of access to physical textbooks and lessen the financial burden of higher education. Our program is independent of the Course Reserves collection of McGill Library and partly funded by the Arts Undergraduate Society through the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund.
Dispersal Project
What does it mean to be a library? A library is a site of gathering where everyone should feel welcome to be, read, and exchange.
This project aims to sustain and accelerate our community’s engagement with the diverse collection at QPIRG-McGill Library by physically distributing a selection from our inventory across Montréal-based resource centers, libraries, bookstores, and pop-up events. It also helps us reflect on the state of our alternative library and rethink modalities of knowledge sharing.
After all, isn’t it the role of the library to disperse as much of the knowledge it holds as possible, just like the perseverance of dandelions, a species that still lives on despite terminating efforts?
Dispersal, not removal. Towards a mobile library that breathes, connects, and persists.
Do you work at an organization that would like to collaborate with us? Do you have any suggestions for organizations and spaces that would host this project? We are always looking for community partnerships. We provide all promotional materials and lend you a curated selection of books from our collection; in return you provide a physical space to host our library.
Contact us for collaborations: library@qpirgmcgill.org.
Trans Resources Database
This project is a regularly updated compilation of trans-affirmative support networks, services, and resources in and beyond Montreal, Canada. The list is divided into ten categories: Immediate support; On-campus; Off-campus, Montreal; Quebec-wide; Canada-wide; Online; Books; Legal matters & safety; Human extraordinaires; Miscellaneous. It is currently an online database hosted on a Google Sheet document, which can be accessed through the library’s linktree (link in bio). We acknowledge that our list is not exhaustive, so we welcome all feedback and suggestions from the community to help refine and grow the project.
How to use:
1. Access the database via this link.
2. For feedback and suggestions, fill out the form linked at the top of the database or comment directly using the “Insert comment” tool of Google Sheet.
The librarian would like to thank volunteers Chanelle, Ezra-Jean, Nadia, and Jade for their extensive help, and community members for their constant input and feedback.
A French version of this database will be available in the near future.
Volunteering
QPIRG-McGill Alternative Library is always seeking book enthusiasts to join as volunteers in our Library Collective. Along with our Resource Centre Coordinator, library volunteers will help with library projects, planning activities, cataloguing, building workshops, and more!
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, fill out our volunteer sign-up form here!
Visit
3516 Avenue du Parc, Montreal, QC
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 1-5pm
library@qpirgmcgill.org