56a Infoshop was founded in 1991 initially as asquat and aself-managed social centre.[3] From here, it eventually had to accept an agreement in 2003[4] to pay a "peppercorn" rent bySouthwark Council to remain functional within the area.[2][5]
The infoshop offers mixed, volunteered services from selling books,book exchanges, free bike workshops, squatter workshops, free meeting spaces, and a open-access archival collection.[6]
56a Infoshop's collection of over 50,000 items (2021) focuses on collectingleft andfar-left radicial and anarchical materials ranging from books, leaflets, magazines, maps, pamphlets posters,zines, and other print material.[7][8] Their collection mainly spans items from the 1980s up to the present day with an active focus on conserving ongoing, although they have materials touching on subjects as early as the 14th century.[9]
They have an ongoingdigitisation effort through theironline catalogue and take on scan-a-thons to preserve collection material. External partners including other archival spaces like MayDay rooms.[10] 56a Infoshop also operates the online resourcesSouthwark Notes[3] that "is a campaigning group and research project concerned with the impact of the regeneration and gentrification of Southwark".[4]
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