A New Venture to Bring Books to the People A Cooperative People .interested in read- ing good books and in help- ing to circulate them (and what P.A. reader isn’t?) re- acted with enthusiasm to the news carried in P.A. recently that a group of Vancouver citi- zens had launched a cooperative association to take over the goodwill of the wellknown People’s Bookstore and finance a new project on a provincial scale. The strength and stability of the cooperative idea harnessed to the task of bringing books, and especially progressive books, to its membership was a welcome proposal. If not completely uni- que in the life of the province it; is certainly the first time it has been advanced with such scope and assurance of practical suc- cess. To date the project has made good progress. The government charter necessary to its opera- tion as a “strictly cooperative venture has been granted. One fifth of the share subscription fixed as essential to get the co- op off to a good start has already been taken up by some 200 mem- bers. A three-year lease on suit- able quarters has been negotia- ted and paid in advance, Money ta pay for alterations and a brand new stock remains to be raised. This is an excellent be- ginning and justifies the com- mittee’s expectations that the co-op can be fully organized and ready for business in a matter of weeks; a beginning that war- rants the fullest support by the progressive public. Provincial in Scope Emphasis on the provincial scope of the project is desirable. Though the store itself will be located in Vancouver, the co-op will be province wide by virtue of a membership located through the interior, on the island and up the coast—of people living in the isolated fishing, mining, log- ging communities and camps, in the remote farming valleys and the smaller cities and towns. This purpose was.foremost in the minds of its sponsors as many features of the proposal reveal. For city dwellers with library facilities and bookstores, books are a commodity more easily available than to those who ‘live in isolated places. For progressive literature of which the co-op will make a speciality, this is particularly true. This creates an obvious need and the idea of mailing periodic book reviews, monthly bulletins and order forms announcing new books in stock and complete an- nual catalogues to all the co-op members has been developed to meet it. A lending library, serving the membership by mail, stocked with new books. of pro- gressive appeal will be estab- lished offering invaluable advan- tage to the more isolated out-of- towner. PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE Mail Orders Stressed The co-op will pay particular attention to mail order contact with members and service. which ;only a non-profit business can give. With its centralized facili- ties it will obtain any book in print, any educational pamphlet or social report a- member re- guests. In all these ways it will break down the barriers of iso- lation which are so acute in this province. Hence a membership in the co-op will confer advan- tages obtainable in no other way. Several enquiries as to the general advantages offered by a co-op apart from this special angle have reached the- commit- tee from supporters who wish to enlist their friends among its members.. Naturally the main point to emphasis is precisely that it is a co-op. This,. given the good mdnagement it will be the function of its directors to ensure, amounts to a practical guarantee. . The strength and stability of cooperative enterprises are too widely known to need outlining here. Co-ops must have-.a gov- ernment charter and be managed in strict conformity with the pro- vincial laws -governing ‘them which is all to the good. Once se- curely. established co-ops rarely AN UNDERTAKING THAT MERITS SUPPORT The article printed on this Page has been prepared: by a representative of the commit- tee which is undertaking the organization of the People’s Cooperative Bookstore in Vancouver to publicize this splendid project which is now well under way and to bring it to the closer attention of P.A. readers in whom it can be expected to arouse immedi- ate sympathy and kéen int- erest. The committee particularly wants to reach people dwell- ing outside the city area, to make known the several fea- tures of the book co-op which are of special advantage to them. The greatest benefits of the co-op will be felt by those who live in camps, iso- lated communities and rural areas.. This unique cooperative for which 250 $5.00 shares have already been taken up merits full support. The capi- taj] needed, a further thous- and shares, should be over- subscribed at once in order that it can open for business in mid-October as_ planned. Now is the time to put the sale and distribution of books throughout the province on a sound and stable cooperative basis. Progressive literature which the co-op will feature will be vitally important in the period ahead. Aljj coop- eratives, many of which have achieved phenomena] growth and successs, had each a be- ginning and this one begins with. you. .Make your sub- scription and help to launch B.C.’s first book selling, co- operative. Bookstorefor B.C. 10 fail and then only through the grossest mismanagement. On the contrary their history is one of constant expansion and growth. Apart from the ser- vice, members reap the benefit of running their own business by sharing its profits. Progressive Books ._ While the distribution to its members of the kind of books they want, which means in prac- tice-all kinds of books including the lightest fiction will be the main business of the co-op, there remains a larger field which only a progressive enterprise can ade- quately fill. Here it can make an incaleulable contribution to the future of B.C. For of final importance to seri- ous people will be the emphasis placed on the distribution of what is widely termed progres- sive literature, Marxist classics, books_and periodicals on social- ism and current history, on art, science and history, on educa- tional material, and on books, pamphlets and reports of social significance. What this mearis in the progressive struggle is far above a question of dollars and cents to its members. A more timely idea to fill a greater need could hardly be imagined. We are emerging from the greatest war ever known, terrible in its suffering and sacrifice, tremendous in the Possibilities for democracy and progress it has opened up, into the conflict of postwar problems which must be faced and solved if the gains are to be realized. The need of progressive books is greater than ever for books must be in the hands of an ad- vancing people, turning them to- wards their future and making them a force to determine what their future shall be. This is the kernel of the idea out of which the hook co-op is taking form. Immediate Pledges Called For : | As soon as the required shares are subscribed the co-op will open in quarters already, leased in the Boilermakers’ Hall on Pender Street, a centre of labor activity in Vancouver on the beaten track of all who visit the city. The best book stock in Western Canada in quantity as well as quality will be displayed and undoubtedly become a Mec- ca for B.C.’s progressive move- ment; a place where the book lover, the student, and the work- er who wants to learn the score can find what they want by mail Gr in person. The co-op offers unique ad- vantages to those who become members. The committee asks, for the wide support necessary to put it over. Approximately a thousand shares pledged or sold by Octo- ber 1 will enable stock orders to go forward and the co-op to be opened well in advance of Christ- mas. Make -a remittance or send in your pledge at once and also bring the co-op to the at- tention of people who can be interested. It needs boosters to put it over. To assist you in sell- ing your friends,-an attractive brochure on the Bookstore Co-op is available on request from The People’s Cooperative Bookstore Association, at 502 Holden Bldg., Vancouver, B.C. To put the distribution progressive literature o sound, strong expand basis. People’s — Cooperative Bookstore Cooperatively Owned and Managed Ur Government Charter ; é 5 Es + me Has Now Been Launch BRINGING TO THE PEOPLE OF B.C:: @ Marxian Classics @ Modern Ficti: @ Socialist @ Progressive Literature Periodicals Books and Pamphlets On: Science, History, Art and Current Eveni a scale never attempted before. THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT: ° Depends on your response and cooperc by becoming a member. | ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP: @ Co-operative dividends Low book prices Monthly bulletins, complete annual | logue . ; A progressive lending library (Especially Designed to Serve Out-of-Town Members) BOOST THIS CO-OP AND HELP PUT IT OVER Share Value, $5.00 Brochure On Rei « SUBSCRIBE NoW 1! ..-kO THE. am People’s Cooperativ Bookstore 502 Holden Building, Vancouver, B.C | ODDO 6 OO Oo > > 2 EE A ww % membership in The People’s Cooperative Bu. store Association. cation being granted, I shall be. entitled to share equ with all other ties of membership PVVVVVIVV VY SATURDAY, SEP’