Zines in LibrariesDeveloping a collection of independent and alternative press materials

What are zines?

“Underground,” counterculture magazines

that typically are printed, cheap, often given

away, and rarely profitable, self-published

as voices of individuality and dissent by

people committed to self-expression.

- Berman, 2005

Zine collections can be found in many kinds of

libraries:Barnard College (NYC)

Portland Public Library (OR)

Linebaugh Public Library (Murfreesboro, TN)

Winchester High School (MA)

Plymouth Regional High School (NH)

Salt Lake City Public Library (UT)

Developing a zine collection is (sort of) like

using open-source software.

≈

a small zine collection

How so?

Zine collections are inexpensive (up-front) and offer unique benefits…but also require more staff time and planning than traditional collections.

Aspiring zine librarians must do a lot of work themselves, instead of relying on vendors and the usual reviewing sources.

Librarians have a great deal of flexibility in establishing a zine collection well-suited to their particular library.

Why develop a zine collection?

Diversity of collection: zines provide a way to include unique and unpopular viewpoints in the library collection.

Literacy and information literacy: the generally short length and informal tone of zines may encourage reluctant readers.

An affordable way to attract new patrons to the library (patrons who already like to read and write)

Zines can add to your collection of local materials.

Provides an easy springboard for programming with kids and YAs.

http://http://tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ttr/2009/manual/zine.html

Challenges

Zines rarely meet the standards of “quality literature” – not from a reputable publisher, not edited, don’t always cite sources – the librarian has to decide.

Language and content may be controversial, especially if your collection is aimed at kids and YAs.

The physical materials and their topics may be very ephemeral, difficult to display and catalog.

So you want to start a zine collection?

Jerianne Thompson from the Linebaugh Library in Murfreesboro, TN, suggests asking the following questions:

What type of collection do you want?Will it circulate?

Will it have a specific focus?

Will you catalog the collection?

How will you process and shelve?

How will you buy them?

How to Order Zines for Your Library: Zine Distros

Distributors (aka “distros”) let you order multiple zines at once.

Nearly all offer descriptions (and sometimes reviews) of the zines they sell.

Some take credit cards, which might make reimbursement easier.

A thorough list (with recommendations) available here: Zine World List of Stores and Distros

Local Zine Resources

Brick-and-mortar stores:Bluestockings (East Village, NYC) – 172 Allen St. (near Houston St.)

Wooden Shoe Books (Philadelphia) – 704 South St. (between 7th and 8th St.)

Zine Fests:Philly Zine Fest: http://www.phillyzinefest.com/

NY Anarchist Bookfair: http://anarchistbookfair.net/

Online Resources

Sources for Zine Reviews:Zine World (Reader’s Guide to the Underground Press)

Library Journal (occasional)

Broken Pencil (mostly Canadian, some US)

Radical Reference: Alternative Library Collections

Places to Download Zines:Zine Library

Queer Zine Archive Project (QZAP)

Zines in the Library Literature

Bartel, J. (2004). From A to Zine: Building a Winning Zine Collection in your Library. Chicago: American Library Association.

Berman, S. (2005). Berman’s Bag: Cataloging Zines and Widgets. The Unabashed Librarian, no. 137. 23-25.

Chepesiuk, R. (1997, Feb.). The Zine Scene: Libraries preserve the latest trend in publishing. American Libraries. (68-70).

Gisonny, K & Freedman, J. (2005). Zines in libraries: how, what, and why? Collection Building, 25 (1). 26-30.

Hubbard, C. (2005, Nov/Dec.). DIY in the stacks: a study of three public library zine collections. Public Libraries, 44 (6). 351-4.

Thompson, J. (2007). Zine Rhymes with Teen: How a zine collection can help you connect with young adults. Tennessee Libraries, 57 (1).

West, J. (2006, Sept.). From Picas to Pixels: Life in the trenches of print and web publishing – an interview with Jenna Freedman, Curator of the Barnard Zine Collection. Serials Review, 32. 266-269.