Solange made it clear with her widely acclaimed album “A Seat at the Table” that she’s dedicated to protecting what Black people own, and she’s just announced her inaugural free library that does just that.
Under her studio and platform Saint Heron, the singer has revealed its new community library filled with rare books and art by Black creators for research, study and exploration, Variety reports.
As previously reported by AfroTech, Saint Heron’s mission is to preserve, collect and uplift the stories, works, and archives of Black and brown artists within our creative communities.
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“The Saint Heron Library continues the work we have been building by preserving collections of creators with the urgency they deserve,” Solange said. “Together we seek to create an archive of stories and works we deem valuable. These works expand imaginations, and it is vital to us to make them accessible to students, and our communities for research and engagement, so that the works are integrated into our collective story and belong and grow with us.”
The collection of 50 books is free and will be available — first come, first served — to U.S. -based residents only, starting Oct. 18 on Saint Heron’s website. Once checked out, readers will have access to their one selected book for 45 days.
The Saint Heron Library’s first season will run from Oct. 18 to the end of November and is guest curated by Rosa Duffy, founder of Atlanta’s community bookstore For Keeps. The first season is also backed by Aesop, a global skincare brand that turned its stores into free queer libraries during this year’s Pride.
“We hold in high esteem the work of the Saint Heron collective in the urgent preservation of important stories, and when they shared their own Library project it was evident to us we needed to support,” Aesop Chief Marketing Officer Adam Kakembo said.
For more details on the Saint Heron Community Library, click here.
