What we do

The New International Bookshop is Melbourne’s oldest radical book store. We sell a wide range of new books, specialising in books on activism, politics, and history. You can browse a selection of our new books online here.

We also sell an enormous array of secondhand books on the same topics, as well as fiction, art and biography. These are available in-store, located in the basement of Trades Hall.

NIBS also holds thought-provoking events such as panel discussions, documentary screenings and a regular book club. You can see our upcoming events here - and don’t forget to check out book club!

Anyone is welcome at NIBS, and we invite you to drop by any time to browse our collection, sit and enjoy reading a book, or have a chat.

History

The New International Bookshop Cooperative was founded in 1994 to continue the legacy of the International Bookshop. Operating under the auspices of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA), the International Bookshop was a Melbourne institution selling Left books and periodicals from the 1930s until the early 1990s when the CPA disbanded.

NIBS opened for business in Trades Hall in 1996 and occupied the space directly above our current location until late 2008, when we moved downstairs into the Trades Hall basement. NIBS has become well-known over the years for its annual Big Red Bookfair which is a much loved event on the Melbourne left calender.

At various times in our history, NIBS has run a café, a catering business, and art gallery and even a photo developing service! Nowadays the shop focuses exclusively on stocking left-progressive books and merchandise from all over the world, maintaining a well order second hand book section (all genres) and running regular events aimed at fostering debate and discussion on the Melbourne Left.