Zine Authors’ Attitudes about Inclusion in Public and Academic Library Collections: A Survey-Based Study

Abstract

Zine collections are becoming an increasingly popular addition to public and academic library holdings. Although academics have made strong arguments for the value of zines’ inclusion as part of our cultural heritage, current research does not focus on zine authors’ perspectives. How do the zine writers themselves feel about having their work—which is often highly personal—collected, shared, and sometimes circulated in the public and academic library sphere? This study will report the findings of a survey designed to uncover zine authors’ attitudes about having their works collected, shared, and circulated—in academic libraries, public libraries, and institutionally affiliated archival collections across the United States.