956 Radical Library

A Fund of

The 956 Radical Library was founded in 2021 by Nansi Guevara and Xandra Treviño in response to the growing threat of book bans across the US. Building on an initial donation from the Texas Book Festival, our collection has grown thanks to support from the Mellon Foundation.

We carry books that focus on indigenous, Mexican-American, and black history, as well as banned books and social justice literature. By partnering with local spaces, we've provided free access to this curated collection since January 2025. Additionally, in collaboration with artists, activists, land protectors, social justice organizations, and volunteers from across the Rio Grande Delta, we've hosted or participated in several events to encourage group reading and discussion focused on the issues we experience as a community.

Starting in November, we will return to our operational hours, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm, at a new location, 1200 West Elizabeth Street in Brownsville, Texas. Your donations would help us maintain the space, expand our book collection, and plan more educational and cultural events that bring our people together. 

We deserve access to radical resources, that is, resources that help us identify issues our community faces and work to address them at their root. In a time where politicians are passing laws to ban books that expose a history of harm against our people, the 956 Radical Library remains committed to providing a space where we can learn and discuss together.