The "bootleg library" is a particular, situated social infrastructure. It operates from the understanding that the library is a collection; a collection of the texts contained within it, and of the readers collected around them. A reciprocal, self-reflexive relationship between the texts and the readers produces sociability. A bootleg is a homage, an unauthorised copy of a source publication; bootlegging is a strategy by which texts acquire diversity, resisting singularity and representing readers.

A physical, travelling collection stored in a former wine box, a digital collection on a self-hosted server, and moments when readers come together create the conditions for producing texts; by bootlegging, uploading, editing, meeting in small rooms, in small groups, and annotating the collection.

Tasks of the Contingent Librarian, a text written, edited and performed together, comprises an index of tasks (e.g. bootlegging, reading/writing, amateuring, making it public/keeping it private, etc.) defined through the particular activities of the bootleg library. This text is published in several different forms, printed and digital, including a hyperlinked version on this website. Although the way they are written or read may vary, each text bears resemblance to the others; "originals" and "copies" alike.

hub.xpub.nl/bootleglibrary

Tasks of the Contingent Librarian

Library of Contingencies*