About Us

the space :
We are located in Bloomfield at 504 Millvale Avenue. Open 1 to 9 from Monday to Saturday and 12 to 5 on Sunday.

the idea :
We are dedicated to the active promotion of radical/alternative cultures through community networking and the distribution of literature. We hope to create a safe and accessible space for people to take part in an open and empowering community. We actively support politics and lifestyles that we deem as alternative, multicultural, woman-positive, queer-positive, class-concious, and all the things that promote a sustainable community. All who attend meetings are welcome to participate in the decision-making process.

the way it works :
We are 100% volunteer! Our collective makes decisions based on consenus - an issue is discussed until all members feel comfortable with the outcome. Rather than voting, which relies on majority rule, consensus (hopefully) ensures that everyone feels empowered and engaged in the project. The structure allows members to feel as through their actions affect the project and their community.

the meetings :
If you would like to get involved, you can become a member of our collective by staffing shifts, coming to the meetings and helping out with the store. We meet the 1st Sunday of every month at 5 pm and the 3rd Monday of every month at 6:30 pm at our store in Bloomfield for a work meeting. If you would like to train as a volunteer, or if you would like any more information, please call the store at (412) 687-4323 (412-OUR-HEAD) or join the volunteer's mailing list @ thebigvolunteers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

consignments :
We have a 60/40 policy on consignments with the exception of "small fundraising items" such as pins and calenders which we may allow organizations to sell at the store without taking a percentage. This can be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.. Please do not send bundles of unsolicited books or zines. If you would like to have your book or zine considered, please contact us to see if we are able to carry it and to review our consignment policy. Donations of zines are always welcome, but we are not able to do trades or sell items without a prior consignment agreement. (In other words, please don't send us dozens of unsolicited zines with a note that says "sell these please.") We are a very small operation and, in most cases, rely on consigners to be responsible for picking up their payments at the store.