Everyone is welcome to discuss and learn the historical and current issues concerning how mass media portrays people of different races and genders. The forum is intended to raise awareness of how ethnic and racial stereotypes in mass media affect social views. @Gallery5 Wednesday, November 19th, 7PM, FREE

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The Lucent Phoenix Community Library in Jackson Ward will be holding an open meeting on Tuesday November 11th from 3-6PM for anyone who is interested in volunteering with the community library and picking up some open hours. Even if you’re not sure if you can dedicate anytime to open hours, come and check out the space and say hello. [via]

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This summer Gallery5 has transformed its downstairs Blackbox Theater into a community library:

“The Lucent Phoenix” has been designed for a community hang out, where individuals can come for educational and recreational reading, intellectual or nonsensical discussion, participate in group activities, surf the web, or even just a place to chill and meet new interesting people over a steamy cup of coffee or tea. Gallery5 encourages groups and organizations to hold meetings and organize group activities to be held in The Lucid Phoenix. Books will be available free for use but will not be allowed to be taken from the premises so that others may enjoy them.

richmond.com’s Art Library shines the light on Gallery5’s move to open a community library, resource center and meeting space:

“We are going to have a ton of books for people to read, comfy furniture to sit on, art to look at, free coffee and maybe even some community instruments for people to play,” said Gallery5’s assistant director Kevin Orlosky.

“Our ultimate goal is to have the space used by community members to hang out, educate themselves and meet new people, without the tension of a corporate atmosphere,” Orlosky said. “It will be open to artist groups, activist groups or even local business organizations to conduct meetings. We really want it to feel like you’re sitting down in your own living room.”

all day, every day has some info about the Jackson Ward Peoples Resource Library:

Gallery5 plans to convert its Blackbox Theatre into a community library, resource center and meeting space. A place where individuals can come for educational and recreational reading, intellectual or nonsensical discussion, surf the web with free wi-fi access, or even just a place to relax over a steamy cup of coffee (donation-based) and fresh baked goods. We also hope to provide a public meeting area for local area activist and organizations to gather that’s more inviting than commercial establishments and living rooms.

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