Help re-open Library Portal

What is Library Portal?

Library Portal is an independent library, arts centre, and meeting place for the community. It is entirely volunteer-run, motivated by community connection, not profit. Library memberships and venue hire fees partially cover the costs of materialising Library Portal (i.e. rent and bills), with donations and volunteers covering the rest. Donors and volunteers believe (through experience within and beyond Portal) that acts of interpersonal, organisational, spatial, musical, discursive and educational care change the ways in which we best understand the world.

You can read more about Portal on our website and imagine it for yourself via this gallery .

Why is Library Portal crowdfunding?

In late 2024, we faced an unexpected challenge - a sudden closure at our Fitzroy location due to external circumstances. Thankfully, we have found a new, heritage-listed home in Northcote. This new space is much larger, which will allow us to offer the community even more. Before we are able to welcome visitors to our new location, the building requires a lot of TLC, and the costs of our ongoing rent and utilities while we were unable to operate, and the relocation, have incurred a significant financial burden. Over $20,000 has been covered out of pocket to keep Portal alive as we prepare for re-opening.

“Our society needs spaces like this more than ever, a place to connect with others and share ideas face to face… It is so meaningful to me that this library is run by volunteers and welcomes alternative ways to be involved and contribute for the benefit of all involved. I would feel significant loss if a space like this were not allowed to exist.”

What will crowdfunds cover?

Your donation will help us to cover the costs required to keep Portal alive while closed and reset Portal into a space that can continue offering the community free access to our collection of over 10,000 books, and free or low-cost access to events and education. 2025 will also see the introduction of new Portal aspects, such as, a community garden, searchable database and Portal Press.

In preparing to re-open Portal, our costs have primarily come from:

Any excess funds raised will be used to continue contributing towards ongoing rent and utilities payments required to keep the space open.

Thanks

In the spirit of reciprocity, Library Portal wishes to offer future donors a gesture of thanks and invitation to engage.

Read more about what a library card entitles you to here. Library Portal would also gladly welcome other donations to the process of consistent and considered labour, books, performances, thoughts, artworks, pictures, furniture, etc. Please email us if you’d like to be involved- see our website for contact details.

A most heart-swelling thanks to those who have generously contributed to the timeline thus far. A most heart-felt welcome to those yet to join.