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We moved! The Co-op Bookstore is now located at: 2150 Bishop Street Nous sommes déménagés! La librairie coopérative est désormais située au : 2150 rue Bishop |
Current Opening hours
Monday - Friday | 10am - 6pm
Closed on weekends
We will be open on reduced hours starting on Monday April 16th, Monday-Friday 11am-5pm
Heures d'ouverture
Lundi au vendredi | 10h00 à 18h00
Fermé les fins de semaine
Nous serons ouverts sur heures réduites à compter du lundi 16 avril, Lundi au vendredi 11h00 à 17h00
What is a Co-op?
While the bookstore project was developing the Co-operative format was chosen because of the principles upon which co-ops are based:
Principles of a Co-op
A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.
Our objective is not to make the most profit from its members but to reinvest surplus earnings to lower prices and increase the quality of services.
The co-operative principles are guidelines by which co-operatives put their values into practice.
1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Co-operatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
The members are the managers. Co-operatives are organized so that the members control the organization. The structure enables members to elect the board of directors. Members may also run for the board. The board hires the manager(s). The manager hires the staff. In co-operatives, the board is accountable to the G.A. (general assembly) of members -the people who need and use the co-op's services.
Our General Assembly happens once anually and all members are invited to attend. Members are informed of the event via e-mail notification and postings on campus. If you are a member and aren't sure if you address is on our mailing list please contact us.
2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Co-operatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Individuals serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In a solidarity co-operative all three types of members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote). Co-ops are structured in a democratic way that allows members to have a say in their actions. The members also decide what should be done with any surplus that is generated in the co-op. The members of the co-op are people, or groups of people, who use and need the services and products a co-operative provides. In a co-op created to purchase goods and services, the users are the members.
3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members allocate surpluses for any of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.
4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy.
5th Principle: Education, Training and Information
Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co-operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders-- about the nature and benefits of co-operation.
6th Principle: Co-operation Among Co-operatives
Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, regional, national and international structures.
7th Principle: Concern for Community
Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members. Co-ops are a way for communities to exercise control over the economic, social and cultural activities that affect the lives of community members. Establishing co-operatives and credit unions in communities (or for a community of people) is a powerful and democratic way to put decision-making in the hands of those who need and use the services. Co-ops are directed locally and invested in locally. The surplus profits of the co-op are returned to the members and therefore remain within the community.
***N.B.: The following represents a work in progress since it has yet to be ratified by the Co-op's Board of Directors. Feel free to contact us if you have any input you'd like to share in regards to our mission statement & mandate.
Our Mission Statement & Mandate
Mission Statement: The goals and objectives of the Co-op are to provide students, faculty members and other members of the community with a professional service and low prices through a non-profit co-op bookstore that is directly controlled by its user, worker and support members.
Mandate of the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore
The Co-op:
- Strives to make education and information more accessible to University Community through its products, services and pricing policies.
- Will offer and provide a wide range of products including alternative forms of media and information.
- Provides a viable example of a business alternative to the capitalist norm.
- Is responsible to the needs and concerns of it’s user, worker and support members.
- Will act responsively and respectively to user input and concerns.
- Will use it’s profits to ameliorate the services and products it can offer it’s clients and members.
- Will favor to do business with businesses and organizations with ethical and environmentally friendly operation standards.
- Will make environmentally friendly decisions when ordering products and conducting daily business.
- Supports and respects student initiatives.
- Will work in solidarity with community groups who represent positive initiatives.
- Will work towards maintaining a positive relationship with Concordia University.
- Will ensure it’s store space and events are accessible to those with disabilities.
- Is a non-discriminatory positive space.
- Will hire new employees based on abilities and competences that compliment a retail environment and our mandate.
- Offers employment to full-time students at above minimum wage standards.
- Will provide a safe work environment.
The History of the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore |
In 2001, the Concordia Student Union ACCESS slate proposed the idea of creating a Co-op Bookstore on campus. Many students supported the project and during that year the preliminary work to see the project realized was completed. The motion to initiate the Co-op project was unanimously approved by the Council of Student Representatives. August 2001 June 2004 November 26, 2004 |
Our Structure
The Solidarity Co-op
We at the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore chose a Solidarity Co-op from the different types because:
The solidarity co-operative is characterized by the diversification of its membership and its openness to partnership. Unlike most Co-ops who have only User Members Solidarity Co-op also have Worker Members (employees) and Support Members (organizations, groups, associations, etc.).
A Solidarity Co-op is directly controlled by its User, Worker, and Support Members. Since a Co-op is a form of self-management the members have a direct say in the direction of the Co-op, vote in general assemblies and can be elected to the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has five seats. Two are filled by User Members, two by Worker Members and one by a representative from a Support Member group.
- User Members make important contributions to the decision making process because they represent the needs of the Co-op's clientele.
- Worker Members brings a vital perspective into the co-op membership providing work-experience-type insight to the decision making process.
- Support Members help the Co-op maintain a connection to campus life and the needs of the diverse student body. They can also contribute progressive voices on the board since they represent groups with articulated aims.
According to the Law on the co-operatives, the name of a solidarity co-operative must contain both the words co-operative and solidarity. Therefore the official name of the co-op bookstore is the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore & Librairie Coopérative de Solidarité de l’Université Concordia.
Bellow, you will find members of our Staff, past and present. We are now in the process of updating this part of our website, and it will soon include profiles for each worker-member. As a bonus, if you are a member of Friendster, or MySpace you can add the Co-op as a friend, as well as some of our staff. Click on one of the pics bellow to see that worker-member's profile. |
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Larissa |
