The Rolling Library is an abolitionist mutual aid group and mobile book fair that offers free books and events to the New York City community. Our books are mainly sourced from donations (from neighbors, publishers, authors, bookstores, our own collections) and are always free. We organize book fairs, community events, pop-up tables, little free libraries, workshops, and more. You can also visit us at Astoria Food Pantry and take books from our collection to borrow or keep!
The Rolling Library believes in education, not incarceration. We believe in defunding & abolishing the police and reinvesting in community, libraries, education, and youth programs. We believe in ending mass incarceration. We believe a better world is possible and that books provide the tools necessary to build it together.
Our goal isn’t to replace bookstores but to take existing excess books from the community and redistribute them to others, especially those who have limited access to books or who are unable to afford them. We love and support our local bookstores: Astoria Bookshop, Golden Lab Bookshop, Bluestockings, The Lit. Bar, Cafe Con Libros, Mil Mundos, and more. We frequently shop at these locations, and we encourage you to shop local too!
The Rolling Library works alongside Astoria Mutual Aid Network, The People’s Bodega NYC, 31st Avenue Open Streets, Free Store Astoria, and Astoria Food Pantry.
To sign up for our newsletter, click here.
To sign up for our queer book club, click here.
To volunteer, request an event, or anything else you can email us at therollinglibrary@gmail.com