Business Details
39 Years
experience
Your Local Marxist Library for Social Research in Oakland
The Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library for Social Research was founded in 1987 to preserve and provide access to Marxist literature and socio-political texts. Our collection, built from the personal libraries of Marxist economist Karl Niebyl and labor organizer Roscoe Proctor, contains over 12,000 volumes spanning economics, history, and social justice movements. We maintain a strong focus on Black authors and anti-capitalist scholarship while offering community space for critical dialogue.Our volunteer staff works to modernize catalog systems while hosting educational programs that connect historical struggles to contemporary issues. As an independent, nonsectarian institution, we prioritize accessibility for working-class researchers and activists seeking to understand systemic inequality.
Services
Library Access
Community Events
Book Donations
Cataloging Services
Educational Programs
Details
- Year established: 1987
Highlights and features
- Specialized collection focusing on Marxist economics and social justice movements
- Community programs connecting historical struggles to modern activism
- Extensive archive of Black authors and anti-capitalist scholarship
- Volunteer-led cataloging efforts making rare materials accessible
- Dedicated space for critical dialogue and working-class research
What people say
Preservation of radical history
Valuable research resource
Community engagement
Specialized collections
Historical connections
Services
Library Access
Access our permanent collection of over 12,000 Marxist texts, including works by W.E.B. Du Bois and Ella Baker. Materials focus on political economy, labor history, and social justice movements. Researchers can use our on-site copy machine for document reproduction.
Community Events
Attend lectures, film screenings, and discussions connecting historical struggles to contemporary issues. Past events have honored figures like Spanish Civil War veteran Delmer Berg and civil rights organizer Ella Baker. Programs emphasize community engagement and critical dialogue.
Book Donations
Donate Marxist literature or social justice materials through our structured process. While we cannot accept unsolicited physical donations, we provide guidance for transferring collections to appropriate institutions that align with our mission.
Cataloging Services
Support our volunteer-led efforts to create a publicly accessible catalog. Our cataloging committee prioritizes Black authors and subjects while maintaining materials from Karl Niebyl's New Deal-era economics collection and Roscoe Proctor's labor movement archives.
Educational Programs
Participate in classes and discussions about Marxist theory and social research methods. Our programs emphasize practical applications of historical struggles to modern activism, with special focus on racial justice and economic equality.
People
Karl Niebyl
Founder
Marxist economist who fled Nazi Germany and became a New Deal economist. His personal library formed the foundation of our collection. He taught at San Jose State University and advocated for accessible socio-political research materials until his death in 1985.
Roscoe Proctor
Co-Founder
Labor organizer and International Longshore and Warehouse Union member who helped break racial barriers in Oakland. His collection of labor movement materials forms a core part of our archives. He mentored youth through job training programs and served on the Communist Party's Political Committee.
Questions
What types of materials does the library collect?
We collect Marxist literature, political economy texts, and social justice materials with emphasis on anti-capitalist scholarship and Black authors. Our core collection includes works from Karl Niebyl's economics library and Roscoe Proctor's labor movement archives.
Can I borrow books from the library?
Our materials do not circulate, but we provide on-site access and copying services. Researchers can use our collection during regular hours or by appointment for specialized materials.
What community programs do you offer?
We host lectures, film screenings, and discussions connecting historical struggles to contemporary issues. Past events have honored civil rights organizers, labor activists, and international peace advocates through lectures and cultural programs.
Is the library affiliated with any political organizations?
We are an independent, nonsectarian institution. While our founders had political affiliations, we maintain neutrality as a research library while preserving materials from various leftist traditions and social movements.
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