The Commons Library newsletter keeps you up to date with social change resources posted on commonslibrary.org

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Apr 2022
Issue 34

Text reads - Celebrating 3 years of the Commons Library. Three slices of rainbow birthday cake with candles. Party streamers are in two corners

Commons News

It's three years since the Commons Library launched in its current form - now it's hard to imagine what we did without it!

We set out to gather the collective wisdom of people engaged in social change in one easy to use place, to help make activism smarter and stronger. That big project is going very well and we're looking forward to many more years. Thank you to all of our contributors, supporters and library visitors!

Thank you for being part of the Commons,
Holly, Antje & Iain, your librarians.

P.S. At the time of sending this newsletter we're in the awkward build up to the calling of the Australian federal election. One thing is for sure: elections come and go and the work of social change continues. If you want to support change makers through all the ups and downs, changes and challenges, please donate to the Commons Library.

Icons of 5 cogs and a spanner with text around each cog. Text reads Destruction, Production, Consumption, Opportunity, Decision and Assuption

Points of Intervention

Your group wants to take action - but how can you choose the place to do that, to have strategic impact? Consider the Points of Intervention: destruction, production, consumption, decision, assumption and opportunity.

To learn about this framework and access a handy planning tool for your team see the Points of Intervention chapter from the book Re:Imagining Change.

Commons Library historian Iain McIntyre has compiled examples from Australian social movement history to demonstrate the value of different points of intervention. We'll be sharing these examples on Facebook and Instagram for regular inspiration - follow along!

Woman at the front of an audience wearing a green t-shirt with a screen behind her. People are seated in front of her listening.

Building Organising Leadership During Election Mobilisation

Max Smith, director of the Community Organising Fellowship, shares some thoughts about how to practice community organising leadership even in the midst of fast-paced election mobilisation.

Leading Change Network Guides

As part of the Commons collaboration with LCN we compiled these guides:

NB some resources are restricted to members of LCN - Join for full access.

a silhouette of a hand placing a ballot paper in a box

Elections and Activism

The Commons has put together resource guides to support your engagement with elections:

Got something to add, or looking for something else? Contact the librarians.

3 people sitting at table with white table cloth that says BlackRock. The people are eating money. A large banner behind them reads - When the last tree is dead, the last fish caught and the last river polluted you will realise that you cannot eat money.

What Else Is New

Work for the Commons

Do you care about the Commons Library and want to see it grow and make activism smarter and stronger for the long term? You could make a donation (thanks so much!) or you could join our team as a casual fundraiser. It's a flexible role that you can do from anywhere in Australia. View the position description and apply for the role.

Donate to the Commons Library

The Commons pays respects to the traditional owners of the land in which we operate and wherever this site is accessed. We recognise the central importance of struggles for Indigenous self-determination and justice within the broad project of creating a progressive future.

Image credits
Commons Library
Points of Intervention (image adapted) - Beautiful Trouble
Community Organising Fellowship
Leading Change Network
Commons Library
BlackRock's Big Problem
Commons Library

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