Building a Winning Zine Collection in Your Library JULIE BARTEL Building a Winning Zine Collection in Your Library JULIE BARTEL American Library Association Chicago 2004 While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of information appearing in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication. Composition and design by ALA Editions in Minion and Franklin Gothic, using QuarkXPress 5.0 on a PC platform Printed on 50-pound white offset, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in 10-point coated cover stock by Data Reproductions The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ϱ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bartel, Julie. From A to zine : building a winning zine collection in your library / Julie Bartel. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8389-0886-1 (alk. paper) 1. Libraries––Special collections––Fanzines. 2. Libraries––Special collections–– Underground periodicals. 3. Fanzines––United States. 4. Underground periodicals–– United States. I. Title. Z692.S5B367 2004 025.2Ј89––dc22 2004009501 Copyright © 2004 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Printed in the United States of America 0807060504 54321 To my best friend Brooke, without whom there would be no City Library zine collection To library director extraordinaire Nancy Tessman, with gratitude for her vision, support, and guidance And especially to my husband Kenny, who makes everything possible Thank you CONTENTS FIGURES vii PREFACE ix PART I Philosophy, Arguments, and Background 1 Welcome to the World of Zines 1 2 Zine Culture 101 10 3 Intellectual Freedom, the Library Bill of Rights, and Zines 23 4 To Collect or Not to Collect: The Whys and Wherefores 31 5 The Salt Lake City Public Library Zine Collection 44 PART II Zine Collections: A Do-It-Yourself Guide 6 Getting Started 55 7 What Do You Do with Them Once You’ve Got Them? 68 8 Living Arrangements 77 9 Spreading the Word 92 10 Programming and Outreach 102 PART III Beyond the Printed Word 11 Electronic Zine Culture: E-Zines, Blogs, and More 117 v vi Contents PART IV Appendixes A Further Information 123 B How to Start Your Own Zine 132 C Review Zines 133 D Distros 135 E Zine Fairs and Conferences 141 F Zine Libraries 142 G Stores That Carry Zines 145 H Recommended Reading 146 INDEX 147 FIGURES 1.1 Library-Related Zines 3 1.2 Zine Librarian Zine 4 1.3 The Variety of Zines 4 5.1 Alternative Press Collection in the Salt Lake City Public Library (Old Building) 49 5.2 Mini-Collection of Zines at a Salt Lake City Branch Library 49 5.3 Zine Collection in the Salt Lake City Public Library’s New Building 52 5.4 Shelving and Display of Zine Collection 53 5.5 Hanging Bags for Multipart Zines 53 6.1 Review Zines 59 7.1 Artist’s Mock-up of the “Ideal Zine Collection” 74 9.1 City Library Zine Collection Logo 97 9.2 City Library and Zine Collection Logo Buttons 100 10.1 Zine Booklists: A Guide to Irreversible Insanity and My Top 10 Favorites 107 10.2 Assignment Sheet for the Zine Project, Typesetting and Design Class at Salt Lake Community College 112 10.3 Issue of SLC Streetz, a Zine Published by Homeless Youths in Salt Lake City 114 vii PREFACE I’ve been involved with the alternative press for more than fifteen years now, first as a small-press literary publisher and then as a zinester. I started a literary mag- azine (called Magic Realism) with a friend in my senior year of high school that lasted for quite a few years, I’m proud to say, and actually grew beyond our abil- ity to care for it. (We even made the cover of Writer’s Digest once!) Sadly, it even- tually became too much for us and we ended it, a decision I still support, but which I regret nonetheless. To fill the void, I turned my attention to the intersec- tion of the alternative press and libraries. Thus was born (with a few twists and turns in between) the Salt Lake City Public Library Zine Collection, which is both the subject of and the inspiration for this book. I have to say a few words about the Salt Lake City Library (we just call it the City Library) here. The City Library is an amazing place, full of incredibly tal- ented and dedicated people. I’ve been here for close to ten years now, and I can honestly say it’s the best library I’ve ever worked at. And that’s saying a lot, I think, since I’ve been working in libraries for about as long as I can remember. I don’t believe there has ever been a time (at least since I could do it legally) when I wasn’t working in at least one library, and there has never been a time that I didn’t intend to be a librarian. Even when I wanted to be an anthropolo- gist and live in the Shetland Islands and write books about them, I still intended to be a librarian-anthropologist. (I thought I could work at a library in the Shetlands and write my book on the side. That way I wouldn’t need as much grant money.) As it turns out, being a librarian is enough, and I’ve been lucky to find a place in an organization that not only supports my crazy endeavors, but actually encourages them. Which brings us back to the zine collection. While I still have a faint and secret hope that there is another collection like ours out there somewhere, I’m fairly certain at this point that there isn’t. At least, ix x Preface I don’t believe there is another zine collection of this size, with this range, that’s open to the public, especially not one in a public library. I’m positive there isn’t another book like this out there. We’ve ached for companionship as we’ve built the collection over the past eight years, and I’ve lost track of how many times we wished there were others like us we could turn to for a different perspective or a new approach. Numerous amazing people have helped us along the way, and their insight and knowledge have been invaluable. But we’re greedy—we want more of you to join us. In this book I’ve tried to pique your curiosity, to inspire you to delve into the world of zines, and to provide all the information necessary to start a collec- tion of your own. While the information in this book comes primarily from my experience at a public library, I think it’s applicable to just about any library set- ting; having worked in all kinds of libraries, I’ve done my best to incorporate ideas and concerns that might arise in those environments as well. I also hope that many of you will be inspired to start zines of your own, and that you’ll send them our way and include them in your own collections. (Though I only have time to work on my own zine—Yummy Sushi Pajama’s—sporadically, it’s a source of constant delight.) The “we” I mentioned earlier deserves an explanation at this point. For the most part, when I say “we” in this book I mean (besides myself) my friend and colleague Brooke Young, who has worked on the zine collection almost from its inception. Though a number of other library staff (notably Gentry Blackburn, Moey Nelson, and Liz Jones) have contributed a great deal to the collection, Brooke especially has been integral to its growth and success. In short, there would be no collection without Brooke. She has shaped it every step of the way, filled it with amazing creations, and kept it all going while I concentrated on this book, among other things. (In addition, she read this manuscript and offered invaluable suggestions and gentle correction. Of course, she also made fun of me when I got something wrong or said something really stupid, but I’m thankful for that as well.) I need to thank all the zinesters who have supported the collection and whose projects continue to inspire us. Thanks also to all the people on the zinegeeks, zinelibrarians, and zinesters chat lists who answered my question- naire, my follow-up questions, and my pleas for help. Thanks to Chris Dodge (for inspiration), Jenna Freedman (for organization), Greig Means (for just being so damn cool), and all the other zine librarians. Thanks to Jerianne and Davida, whose review zines are invaluable to us, and fun to read. Thanks to Joe Biel and Alex Wrekk at Microcosm for support and for help compiling lists of Preface xi review zines, distros, and stores, and for listing us in the new edition of Stolen Sharpie Revolution (even though I couldn’t find it). Thanks to Frances, the best manager anyone could wish for, mostly for put- ting up with me, but also for all the support and encouragement (and for marsh- mallow fights and sno-cones, as well).