Dua Lipa, who in 2023 launched her Service95 Book Club, has now partnered with Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal, to open a physical library. Opening June 27th, The Manifesto Library is dedicated to books “that challenge power, censorship, exclusion, and dominant narratives.”
“When I founded the Service95 Book Club, my ambition was for it to become a home for writers and readers, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances. Reading the world brings us closer – but sadly, not everyone is in favour of that,” Lipa explained in a statement.
“Here you will find one hundred books that ask questions, or have been questioned. Some have been banned by school districts for themes of race or sexuality. Others, written for LGBTQIA+ readers, have been restricted from display. In some cases, the author has paid for their words with their life,” she added.
“This library is a shrine to books that have disappeared, to authors whose courage unmasks structures of power and control, and to readers who refuse to be told what book they are allowed to read. You are invited to visit and decide for yourself what belongs on these shelves. Because sometimes the most subversive thing you can do is read a book and then talk about it.”
The Manifesto Library will be located in Livraria Lello’s new cultural auditorium, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza. The library has also been conceived “as a living cultural space for reading, debate and public reflection,” per a press release.
