Zines

Welcome to My Zine Library!

I didn’t grow up with zines—Now I can’t get enough of them

· 4 min read
Welcome to My Zine Library!

I did not grow up knowing what zines were. I first got a taste of them at the Alien She exhibit at the Orange County Museum of Art back in 2015. Then I got to make my own pandemic zine in 2020 during a virtual workshop, and I finally got sucked for good into the world of zines in 2024.

I've been on a deep dive ever since, read a ton of them, visited as many zine libraries as I could, attended my first zine fest, and I eventually bit the bullet and made my own.

This post has been in my drafts for quite a while now and I feel it will never be finished, so I think I might start a zine section on this blog and document my journey through the indie print industry.

Welcome to this part of my world.

A picture of a the "Gay Sailor Tattoos" zine by R.J. Gillis

What's a zine?

A zine (short for fanzine or magazine) is a small, self-published, often handmade booklet or magazine that is usually produced in limited quantities. Zines are typically created by individuals or small groups and focus on niche topics, personal expression, or subcultures. They are often photocopied or printed in a DIY (do-it-yourself) style and can cover anything from art, poetry, and personal essays to activism, music, and countercultural movements.

Zines have a strong history in punk, feminist, and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as in independent publishing. They are a form of independent media that values creativity, accessibility, and self-expression over commercial appeal.

This video is the perfect introduction to the world of zines.

A picture of a pile of zines

Over my explorations, I've come across an insane amount of resources and decided to compile them for future reference:

Zine Libraries

  • The IPRC zine library (Portland, OR): I got a chance to visit it during my last trip to Portland and only got to scratch the surface. The person in charge offered to let me borrow zines for a longer period of time since I live so far away <3
  • Outlet PDX zine library (Portland, OR): This was another stop on the aforementioned trip. I spent a morning there, perusing the zine selection, purchasing a few copies, and was inspired to write my latest post.
  • Bend Zine Library (Bend, OR): I'm so thankful to Heather for this incredible local resource. Now you're very likely to find me upstairs at Dudley's Bookshop, leafing through the latest additions to the (ever-growing) zine library.

Where to buy/swap zines?

A picture of my version of the "My ---- Year, to end 2024 I say" by Shay Mirk

My Favorite Zines & Zinesters

A picture of the "how to make a one-page zine - No artistic skills required" zine by Shay Mirk

Zine Workshops and Printing Resources

Learning about zine culture and then diving into the nitty-gritty of tools and resources has been such a fun adventure. I took a riso workshop years ago and now can see myself applying this skill to my newfound passion. I never thought I'd geek about 40-year-old printers!

Zine Events

Big events are a little overwhelming for me, but I could see myself going to more of them once I have zines to swap with fellow makers and attendees. Here are the ones I put on my calendar for this year:

A picture of bilingual Mexican zine "Desprecio y Despojo - Turismo y gentrifícación en Oaxaca"

Zines in France

As I mentioned before, I did not grow up in an environment where zines were a thing, so it's been fun doing a little research during my trips back home. Here's what I found so far:

This week I'm working on my contribution for an upcoming collective zine, wish me luck!

Do you read zines? Do you make zines? Would you like to trade? Please, send me all your recommendations!

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