# Read Zines & Indie Comics
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, it is fully searchable in our catalog and materials in the zine collection can be placed on hold and transferred to other libraries within Jacksonville. As with all library materials, you will need a library card to check out items, but all are welcome to come in and view the collection within the Main Library.
Note: The Library's collection is primarily focused on regionally-based zines - an effort to better reflect the voices in our community. However, we do collect zines from creators outside of Northeast Florida.
# Make and Trade Zines
For the past few years, the Library has also partnered with Duval Comic and Zine (DCAZ) Fest to host an annual celebration of independent publishing and DIY media right here in the heart of downtown Jax. We also host 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. If you would like to participate in a Zine Swap, be sure to bring a copy of one of your original zines for trading.
Annual Zine and Indie Comics Event
The Fourth Annual Duval Comic and Zine Fest was scheduled for 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Main Library. This year, there were 90+ local artists, zinesters and comic makers plus a risograph printer, free zine-making activities, take-and-make zine kits and more. Stay tuned for information about the next DCAZ Fest (date TBA).
Watch Lit Chat Interviews from the previous DCAZ Fests with award-winning graphic novelists Jim Rugg, Leela Corman and Nate Powell on the Library's YouTube channel or listen on the go with our Completely Booked podcast. Find it on Apple podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Be the first to know about Library events and programs!
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. They often cover subjects overlooked in larger-scale publications.
What ties them all together is the passion of their creators and their do-it-yourself (DIY) beliefs. Zines are a labor of love, not profit, and they are as varied as their creators!
Why Does the Library Have a Zine Collection?
Our goal is to circulate and preserve alternative media resources that inspire readers to re-examine and learn from alternative and under-served voices that represent our community. We hope that by offering these unique and inspiring materials, library users will gain a broader appreciation for their community (and library) and that they will feel empowered to contribute their own work.
How Do I Donate My Zine to the Collection?
We accept zines of different shapes, sizes, and formats. Whether hand-drawn or hand-written, photocopied and stapled, or professionally printed: we want to see it all!
There’s no deadline to submit. We’re always accepting new zines to the collection at the Library. 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
There are also several drop boxes around town, sponsored by Duval Comics and Zines (DCAZ) and other community-minded businesses and organizations. Just look for the CALL FOR ZINES poster. The drop boxes may only be out for a relatively short period of time.
#
# Preserve Your Hand-Made Zines
Have you ever wanted to convert your zines to an easily stored or sharable digital format?
Jacksonville Public Library’s Memory Lab is available to library card holders for self-directed use, during regular library hours, in Special Collections on the fourth floor of the Main Library. If you do not have a library card, it takes just two minutes to sign up for free online or in-person. Note: Guest passes and non-resident cards are also available for a fee.
Scanning hard copies, books and oversized materials
The Bookeye 5 V2Overhead Book Scanner allows you to scan materials up to 24” x 18.5”, in bulk and at high speeds. With its laser-assisted camera, the Bookeye will also flatten and automatically de-skew images and text – even if you’re not able to lay the material completely flat. It also removes those pesky shadows! You can scan at 180 degrees (flat) or at a gentle 120 degrees (to cradle and protect the book spines). It scans at a resolution of 400 dpi, suitable for high-quality printing.
For flat items, the Epson Expression 13000XL Archival Scanner allows you to scan materials up to 12.2" x 17.2" at a high resolution of up to 1200 dpi in Document Mode. Our Epson V600 Flatbed Scanners can accommodate photos or documents up to 8 ¾” x 12” or 12.2" x 17.2" (depending on the scanner). They can even scan slides and negatives.
Plan ahead:
- Bring a flash drive of at least 8GB to save files. Files can also be saved to Cloud storage such as Google Photos. The Bookeye 5 is also connected to the public printer.
- If you’re new to Photoshop, you view tutorials ahead of time on LinkedIn Learning (access to on-demand video tutorials is free with your library card).
- Walk-ins are welcome but if you want to make sure a digitization station is available for you when you arrive, please schedule an appointment online or by calling (904) 255-BOOK.
For more, visit: Scanning Books and Documents and/or Scanning Photos, Slides, and Negatives.
Celebrating Self-Publishers
Jacksonville is the home of many talented writers. To make their work accessible to the entire community, the Library created the Local Author Collection. If you a local author or small press with a book, CD or DVD that you'd like us to consider adding to the collection, we want to hear from you! If you're donating a copy, start by requesting a local author submission form. If you want the Library to consider purchasing a copy of your work, click to learn about marketing your book to us.
Don't have physical copies of your book? Learn more about self-publishing e-books at the library and FREE access to the Indie Author Project and Pressbooks Public self-publishing platforms. Check out some of the e-books that have already been submitted on our BiblioBoard page.
