#The Zine Zone
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.
The collection is housed on the first floor of the Main Library and is fully searchable in our catalog.
Not only that, materials in the zine collection can be placed on hold and transferred to other libraries within Jacksonville. As with all library materials, users will need a library card to check out items, but all are welcome to come in and view the collection within the Main Library.
#Read, Make, and Trade Zines
We also host monthly a Zinester Meetup on the first Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (during Art Walk). For the past few years, the Library has also partnered with Duval Comic and Zine Fest to host an annual celebration of independent publishing and DIY media right here in the heart of downtown Jax. Our most recent event was held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and featured 60+ regional and local creators, drop-in art and zine-making activities, and a Lit Chat Interview with Nate Powell, the National Book Award-winning cartoonist best known for the March trilogy he co-created with civil rights icon John Lewis.
Check out Lit Chat Interviews from the previous DCAZ Fests with award-winning graphic novelists Jim Rugg and Leela Corman on the Library's YouTube channel or Completely Booked podcast.
Be the first to know about new zines and events!
#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 self-published comics and zines.
#How Do I Donate My Zine to the Collection?
We accept zines of different shapes, sizes, and formats. 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. 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.
#Celebrating Self-Publishers
Jacksonville, Florida, is the home of many talented writers. To make their work accessible to the entire community, Jacksonville Public Library created the Local Author Collection.
Are you a local author or small press with a book, CD or DVD that you'd like us to consider adding to the collection? If you're donating a copy of the work, request a local author submission form. If you'd like the Library to consider purchasing a copy, 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 self-publishing platforms. Check out some of the e-books that have already been submitted on our Biblioboard page.
