Iffy Books | 404 S. 20th St., PHL
hacking, free culture, gardening, zines
Cassette Mixtape Session
Bring a playlist on your phone/computer and we’ll help you record it to an audio cassette tape. We have plenty of tapes to share! Register:
̶M̶e̶s̶h̶t̶a̶s̶t̶i̶c̶ ̶1̶0̶1̶ (tomorrow at PCW instead!)
We're calling off this workshop because we're doing one with Philly Community Wireless the following day, Saturday, March 1st. We're very sorry for the inconvenience. Join us for an introduction to Meshtastic, an application that lets you send private text messages over the air using pocket-sized LoRa radio transceivers. We’ll show you how to flash the […]
Meshtastic Workshop with Iffy Books & PCW
Join us Saturday, March 1st at 2141 N. Howard St. to learn about Meshtastic and LoRa for building encrypted networks with Steve McLaughlin from @iffybooks! Meshtastic uses small radios to send signals, and these radios connect to each other to form a “mesh” network of devices without using the internet or phone lines. We’ll start […]
Linux Lab: E-Z Command-Line Encryption
The first Sunday of every month we'll host a self-guided tutorial for Linux beginners. On March 2nd we'll focus on no-frills encryption techniques using the command line. Stop by any time from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and learn a new skill! We have plenty of computers to share. We're suggesting a $5–$10 donation for […]
The Writing Room
Come co-work with other writers in three 40-minute units of silent writing. Writers and projects of any type welcome. 10-minute breaks and accountability check-ins between units. BYO coffee, water, computer chargers, notepads, etc.
Beginner Soldering: Make a DIY Guitar Cable
Join us for a relatively quick and easy soldering workshop, suitable for total beginners! You'll strip some wires and solder 1/4-inch plugs to the ends, creating your own guitar cable. You can get a kit with 6 inches of cable for $4.25, or 4 feet for $13.50. We're suggesting a $5–$15 donation for the class, […]
Capital Reading Group
Join us on the first and third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. for a reading group on Capital by Karl Marx. We'll be reading Paul Reitter's recent translation (Princeton University Press, 2024). October 17: • The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, Chapters 1–5 • Principles of Political Economy by John Stuart Mill, […]
Beginner Soldering: DIY Audio Meter
Join us for another beginner-friendly soldering project at Iffy Books! You'll assemble a DIY audio meter kit, which you can use to visualize an audio signal's amplitude. To complete this project you'll need to buy a kit for $7.95. We’re suggesting a $10–$30 donation for the class. We'll provide soldering irons and solder. Register:
Solder & Code: Make a 3-Button Keyboard with a Pi Pico
In this workshop you'll build and program a customizable 3-button USB keyboard using a Pi Pico microcontroller. You can program each button to type a chunk of text (e.g., your email signature), enter a keyboard shortcut, or launch an application. It's easier than it sounds! Here's what we'll do: • Solder three push button switches […]
The Writing Room
Come co-work with other writers in three 40-minute units of silent writing. Writers and projects of any type welcome. 10-minute breaks and accountability check-ins between units. BYO coffee, water, computer chargers, notepads, etc.
Volunteer Zine Folding Session
We print a *lot* of zines at Iffy Books, which we distribute for free or by donation. That means we’re constantly folding and stapling, which takes patience. And we’re currently having a hard time keeping all 150+ titles in stock. So we’re running a volunteer zine folding session every other Wednesday afternoon! If you’ve been […]
Neo-Luddite Reading Group
Full schedule: victorgom.es/neoluddite 
Virtual Meetup Link Time and Place: The 2nd Wednesday of each month 6:30-8:30 EST in-person at Iffy Books. There is also a virtual option for accessibility purposes, also hosted by Iffy Books. Email neoluddite@victorgom.es, or sign up at iffy to be added to the mailing list! Necessary for receiving the jitsi […]
Overflowing Poetry: Dylan Angell, Lizzy Hindman-Harvey & Robert David Carey
Doors at 7, reading at 7:30!
Tabling at Temple Electronics Faire
Temple Electronics Faire Website Electronics are complex technical objects. They have militaristic and colonial origins, are made out of materials invasively extracted by western corporations on indigenous lands, have short use cycles and decay on a slow geological scale. Circuit boards are embedded with sexist and racist logics, and formal training in understanding, producing, and […]
Late Blooming Lovers Market at Love Park
Vday was for the birds this year in Philly, so we are offering all our late blooming lovers a chance to join us for a our annual lovers market in March to celebrate the start of Spring. EVENT IS INSDE THE LOVE PARK SAUCER LOCATED AT 1600 JFK 
Our Now + Then Marketplace features the […]
Model Internet Club (moved to Sunday!)
The Model Internet Club is back! Join us every third Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an informal meetup focused on building small-scale computer networks. No registration needed for this event! If we run out of space we can expand into our back yard area.
Meshtastic 101
Join us for an introduction to Meshtastic, an application that lets you send private text messages over the air using pocket-sized LoRa radio transceivers. We’ll show you how to flash the latest Meshtastic firmware to the device, customize the settings, and start chatting with your friends. Here’s a link to our zine on LoRa + Meshtastic. […]
Beginner Darning Workshop
Join us for a class on how to darn your clothes! Bring a garment with a small hole (dime-sized is ideal) or we'll provide a scrap you can use. We're recommending a $10–$20 donation for this workshop, notaflof. Register:
The Writing Room
Come co-work with other writers in three 40-minute units of silent writing. Writers and projects of any type welcome. 10-minute breaks and accountability check-ins between units. BYO coffee, water, computer chargers, notepads, etc.
Beginner Soldering: Make a DIY Guitar Cable
Join us for a relatively quick and easy soldering workshop, suitable for total beginners! You'll strip some wires and solder 1/4-inch plugs to the ends, creating your own guitar cable. You can get a kit with 6 inches of cable for $4.25, or 4 feet for $13.50. We're suggesting a $10–$20 donation for the class, […]
Permacomputing + Solarpunk Meetup
The Permacomputing + Solarpunk meetup is every other third Wednesday at Iffy Books! You can join us in person (404 S. 20th St., PHL) or remotely via Jitsi Meet. Virtual meetup link From Permacomputing.net: Permacomputing is a more sustainable approach to computer and network technology inspired by permaculture. Permacomputing is both a concept and a community […]
Solder & Code: Li’l Info Box
Build a minimal e-reader with a 0.96" OLED screen, two buttons, and a knob to turn pages. Runs for several days on 3 AA batteries! This is an intermediate-level soldering project. If you're a complete beginner, you may want to take one of our other soldering classes first. Instructions & example code at iffybooks.net/lil-info-box Register: […]
̶C̶a̶p̶i̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶R̶e̶a̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶G̶r̶o̶u̶p̶ (canceled this week. sorry!)
We're canceling this week's meeting due to an unforeseen issue. Very sorry for the delay! We hope you can make it on April 3rd. ̶J̶o̶i̶n̶ ̶u̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶r̶d̶ ̶T̶h̶u̶r̶s̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶t̶h̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶7̶ ̶p̶.̶m̶.̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶g̶r̶o̶u̶p̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶C̶a̶p̶i̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶K̶a̶r̶l̶ ̶M̶a̶r̶x̶.̶ Reading for March 20th: • The Buying and […]
Solder & Code: Li’l Info Box
Build a minimal e-reader with a 0.96" OLED screen, two buttons, and a knob to turn pages. Runs for several days on 3 AA batteries! This is an intermediate-level soldering project. If you're a complete beginner, you may want to take one of our other soldering classes first. You can bring a laptop or use […]
Solder & Code: Li’l Info Box
Build a minimal e-reader with a 0.96" OLED screen, two buttons, and a knob to turn pages. Runs for several days on 3 AA batteries! This is an intermediate-level soldering project. If you're a complete beginner, you may want to take one of our other soldering classes first. You can bring a laptop or use […]
The Writing Room
Come co-work with other writers in three 40-minute units of silent writing. Writers and projects of any type welcome. 10-minute breaks and accountability check-ins between units. BYO coffee, water, computer chargers, notepads, etc.
Soldering Practice: LED Heart Board
Come out and get some soldering practice! This time we're making a heart-shaped board with 22 LEDs, using an oscillator circuit to dim and brighten them at the speed you choose. This project is ideal for folks who have soldered at least once before. Beginners are welcome to join us, but it may take you […]
Solder & Code: Li’l Info Box
Build a minimal e-reader with a 0.96" OLED screen, two buttons, and a knob to turn pages. Runs for several days on 3 AA batteries! This is an intermediate-level soldering project. If you're a complete beginner, you may want to take one of our other soldering classes first. You can bring a laptop or use […]
Cassette Mixtape Session
Bring a playlist on your phone/computer and we’ll help you record it to an audio cassette tape. We have plenty of tapes to share! Register: coming soon!
Meshtastic 101
Join us for an introduction to Meshtastic, an application that lets you send private text messages over the air using pocket-sized LoRa radio transceivers. We’ll show you how to flash the latest Meshtastic firmware to the device, customize the settings, and start chatting with your friends. Here’s a link to our zine on LoRa + Meshtastic. […]
Solder & Code: Li’l Info Box
Build a minimal e-reader with a 0.96" OLED screen, two buttons, and a knob to turn pages. Runs for several days on 3 AA batteries! This is an intermediate-level soldering project. If you're a complete beginner, you may want to take one of our other soldering classes first. You can bring a laptop or use […]
Solder & Code: Li’l Info Box
Build a minimal e-reader with a 0.96" OLED screen, two buttons, and a knob to turn pages. Runs for several days on 3 AA batteries! This is an intermediate-level soldering project. If you're a complete beginner, you may want to take one of our other soldering classes first. You can bring a laptop or use […]
Beginner Darning Workshop
Join us for a class on how to darn your clothes! Bring a garment with a small hole (dime-sized is ideal) or we'll provide a scrap you can use. We're recommending a $5–$25 donation for this workshop, notaflof. Register:
