Zine Collection Research Articles

Alternative literature in libraries: the unseen zine

PurposeThis article aims to show both the importance of collecting zines, particularly in public libraries, and the issues and challenges associated with the management of such a unique collection.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on the research of recent literature, zine‐related web sites, and library catalogues. Examples of current zine collections are frequently discussed.FindingsThe study finds that, although zines provide many challenges in the area of collection management, suitable solutions can be found. These challenges, therefore, should not be an excuse for the lack of zine collections found in libraries today.Originality/valueThis article provides a complete picture of the collection management of zines and discusses practical solutions to address the challenges involved by pointing several examples of successful zine collections.

Book Review: From A to Zine: Building a Winning Zine Collection in Your Library

Book Review: From A to Zine: Building a Winning Zine Collection in Your Library

Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing: An Interview with Jenna Freedman, Curator of the Barnard Zine Collection

For this issue of “From Picas to Pixels,” incoming co-editor Jessamyn West talks to fellow rogue librarian Jenna Freedman, curator of the Barnard Zine Collection. Are zines serials or monographs? Should they circulate or not? Jenna and Jessamyn discuss the difficulties of getting a zine collection started, the difficulties of keeping them alive, and much more.

Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing: An Interview with Jenna Freedman, Curator of the Barnard Zine Collection

For this issue of “From Picas to Pixels,” incoming co-editor Jessamyn West talks to fellow rogue librarian Jenna Freedman, curator of the Barnard Zine Collection. Are zines serials or monographs? Should they circulate or not? Jenna and Jessamyn discuss the difficulties of getting a zine collection started, the difficulties of keeping them alive, and much more.

Zines in libraries: how, what and why?

PurposeThis paper sets out to discuss the importance of collecting alternative press materials, particularly zines, in libraries and presents case studies of zine collections; Barnard College Library and the New York Public Library.Design/methodology/approachThis paper builds on work presented by the authors and others at the 12th National ACRL conference in Minneapolis, where zine collections in different types of academic and research libraries were discussed.FindingsZines document contemporary culture in the same way newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and movies as, but from a much different point‐of‐view. It is important for libraries to collect zines, and all alternative press materials, to ensure balanced and diverse collections, as well as securing primary source material for scholars today and in the future.Originality/valueThis paper provides concrete examples of how two libraries are handling collections of zines.

Briefly Noted

Complete Copyright: An Everyday Guide for Librarians, ed. Carrie Russell. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2004. 262 p. $50 softcover (ISBN: 0-8389-3543-5) This spiral bound volume by one of ALA's copyright experts is at once strangely whimsical and hands-on helpful for librarians who are considering the practical implications of copyright law and policy. Organized into sections with a personal narrative (i.e., "Maggie Discovers Copyright"; "Professor Kahn Exercises Fair Use"; and "Ben's Interlibrary Loan Request is Denied") the rules, steps, regulations, and intentions of copyright are discussed in very accessible detail. The volume is oriented around these characters who show the way to understanding copyright, and it is filled with comic-book style illustrations and numerous sidebars and boxes that discuss prominent court cases, provide tips for various tasks, and list relevant "Q&As." The ALA Office of Information Technology Policy runs a companion Web site, http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/copyrightb/completecopyright. (T.J.) Dictionary for Library and Information Science, Joan M. Reitz. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004. 789 p. $50. (ISBN: 1-59158-075-7) From "abbreviation" to "Z39.50", this is a thorough dictionary of library terms and jargon. Initially compiled online as Hypertext Library Lingo, the collection of terms grew and now totals roughly 4,000. The full dictionary is also freely available online at http://lu.com/odlis/ (T.J.) From A to Zine: Building a Winning Zine Collection in Your Library, Julie Bartel. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2004. 168 p. $35. (ISBN: 0-8389-0886-1) Along with blogs and e-zines, zines—personal magazines, to oversimplify—are the ground floor for self-publishing output. The author argues that zine collections are valuable resources, especially for making a connection with high school and college-age students, and provides a primer on zines and zine culture as well as tips for building, maintaining, and publicizing a zine collection. (T.J.) [End Page 141] Libraries Without Walls 5: The Distributed Delivery of Library and Information Services, ed. Peter Brophy, Shelagh Fisher, and Jenny Craven. London: Facet Publishing, 2004. 320 p. $80 (ISBN: 1-85604-511-0) This fifth installment of the proceedings of the international "Libraries Without Walls" conference maintains the conference's focus on delivery of library services outside of the physical library. The contributions, most from U.K. librarians, are varied and address topics such as the integration of remote library services with distance learning services, systems and software, and the usability of digital libraries. While the jargon and acronyms of the primarily European contributions may be different, the issues addressed and, in some cases, the specific software and examples will be familiar to any academic librarian. (T.J.) Performance Management and Appraisal: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians, G. Edward Evans. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2004. 293 p. $75 softcover (ISBN: 1-55570-498-0) This very practical volume is designed to illustrate the various types of performance appraisal and provide detailed guidance in conducting these appraisals in all types of libraries. With hopes that he might help move libraries to "reassess, redesign and restructure" their current assessment systems, the author outlines several broad approaches and methods that might be considered. Dozens of sample assessment forms are provided. (T.J.) Serials in the Park: NASIG 2003, ed. Patricia Sheldahl Frency and Richard L. Worthing. New York: Haworth Press, 2004. 356 p. $34.95 softcover (ISBN:0-7890-2565-5) Published simultaneously as The Serials Librarian, v. 46, nos. 1/2 and 3/4 This is the proceedings of the 18th annual North American Serials Interest Group conference in Portland, OR, and the papers in this volume leave hardly a single park metaphor unturned. The topics range widely but are primarily divided between personnel and management issues and issues specific to electronic journals. Many serials librarians swear by NASIG as their most valuable gathering, and the papers presented should be of interest to serialists anywhere. (T.J.)