# The DIY Self-Publishing Tool
International Zines Month is a great time to engage with the world of zines and DIY self-publishing. July was chosen for this occasion, in part, due to the popularity of the 24-Hour Zine Thing, which challenges creators to go "from concept to completed/printed-and-bound 24-page zine in 24 hours." Of course, anytime is a good time read, make and trade zines. But it's often more fun to create "in community" with other zinesters.
To that end, the Library hosts monthly a Zinester Meetup from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month (during Art Walk) at the Main Library and a Zine Collab Drop-In with the Ex Libris Zine Guild from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays at Murray Hill Branch Library. Note: If you would like to participate in a Zine Swap, be sure to bring a copy of one of your original zines for trading.
We also partner with a local nonprofit to host the annual Duval Comic and Zine Fest at the Main Library. The fourth annual event took place this year on June 21 and featured 90+ local creators.
# Read Any Good Zines Lately?
Staff Picks from the Zine Collection
- Welcome to the Zine Zone Vol. 1
- Toronto Zine Library Resource Zine
- Behind the Zines. Vol. 17: A Zine about Zines
- Zines in Libraries: Selecting, Purchasing, and Processing
- Doing It Yourself in Stumptown : Resources for Making your own Zines, Posters, and other Self-Published Goodies in the Portland Area
- Zine Librarians Code of Ethics Zine
- Lower East Side Librarian : Special Zine Tour Edition
- Zine Librarian Pets Zine. Vol 3
Borrow Zines from the Library for FREE
Jacksonville Public Library has an expansive Zine Collection—one of the first housed in a public library in the Southeast! The scope of the collection is broad, including the arts, music, comics, politics, gender issues, and advocacy. Housed on the first floor of the Main Library, zines are fully searchable in our catalog and available to check out. Stop by the Main Library to browse or place a hold online and request a pickup at a Jax Library near you!
What is a Zine?
A zine (pronounced ZEEN, as in “magazine”) is difficult to define—and that’s on purpose. Zines are made by people who feel strongly enough about something to write, draw, compile, print, and distribute their thoughts about it, and that’s the only requirement! They usually take the form of a small pamphlet, but they can be any size, any length, and about any topic and often cover subjects overlooked in larger-scale publications.
Note: Some creators chose to only distribute their work locally, in print. So, it's always important to ask before scanning or sharing zines online that you've received in a trade or swap. Some zinesters do offer their work online (often as printable files). Many artists will give away or sell "art zines" as a way for their fans to start collecting art (if high-quality prints are out of their price range). Poets can even use zines as DIY mini-chapbooks to share small collections of poetry. To put it simply: Zines are often a labor of love and they are as varied as their creators!
Donate Your Zine
There’s no deadline to submit. We’re always accepting new zines to the collection at the Library. We accept zines and indie comics of different shapes, sizes, and formats. Whether hand-drawn or hand-written, photocopied and stapled, or professionally printed: we want to see it all!
Selections are made by Library staff, using the Library policies regarding collection development. Criteria for selection will include literary merit, artistic merit, subject specialty, scarcity of material on the subject, quality, format, and local and regional authorship. Efforts will also be made to replace zines that have been heavily used and worn.
You Can Donate Anytime, in Person or by Mail to:
Main Library c/o Zine Collection
303 N. Laura St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Be sure to include:
- Name of Author(s)/Artist(s)
- Volume number(s), if any
- Year of publication
- Your email address
