Historic bookshop turns to crowdfunding for survival

Atheneum hopes to raise 300,000 kroner by November 1

The historic Copenhagen bookshop Atheneum has been forced to turn to crowdfunding in a last-ditch effort to stay in business.

The Academic Books/SL fund has decided it no longer wants to run a bookshop, and it is scheduled to close on October 16. Atheneums Venner (Atheneum’s Friends), a non-profit association established by a number of dedicated employees and passionate volunteers, is fighting to raise funds to ensure its survival.

“We hope that we, with your help, can share the message with as many people as possible and collect funds to keep and relaunch this little pearl in the heart of Copenhagen,” Atheneums Venner wrote on its Facebook page.

“Atheneum is created and run by readers for readers. Spread the word and share the passion.”

READ MORE: Crowdfunding helps historic story about Tibetan football team come to life

Survive to relaunch
The crowdfunding campaign, which aims to raise 300,000 kroner by November 1 via the Boomerang crowdfunding site (here in Danish), has garnered just over 4,000 kroner after two days of campaigning.

With the funds, Atheneums Venner hopes to relaunch the bookshop as a modern, independent, non-profit bookshop specialising in modern Nordic and international literature.

Atheneum, which has a commendable English-language section, was established in 1874, which makes it is one of Copenhagen’s oldest bookshops. It is located on Nørregade and specialises in academic literature and rare foreign, Middle Eastern and Asian literature.

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