This September, the Kraemer Family Library is excited to announce the launch a new collection of zines. Zines are self-published mini-books that are made for passion, not profit. They frequently cover niche, outsider and avant-garde subject matter.
The library is collecting these works in order to diversify its holdings in multiple senses. As diverse formats, zines allow for accessible, visually engaging and energizing entry points into the topics they cover. Like pamphlets and manifestoes from the past, they frequently include a call to action for community members to get involved and question the status quo. Sometimes they are primary sources for events and experiences.
Zines are also created by people with identities that have traditionally been excluded from publishing. The library has intentionally been purchasing zines by creators with diverse backgrounds. The collection has been curated around specific themes including environmental conservation, Indigenous storytelling, mental health, migration, neurodivergence and more.
But the library is not only collecting zines from outside of UCCS – the collection also features works created by UCCS students. Several instructors (including Tre Wentling, Haruki Eda, Chris Martin and Nate Siebert) have been tasking their students to create zines as assignments for their classes. These works have been added to the library’s collection – the original, one-of-a-kind zines reside in the library’s archives, while printed copies are available on the library shelves. The library also commissioned students to create their own zines, independent of class assignments, about whatever topics students were interested in. These students include Anahi Aken, Kyra Bass, Lauren Boyd, Ally Hernandez, Milo Kpadenou, Isabella Polombo, Tessa Schauer and Reeti Sharma.
This collection was made possible by the Radical Librarian Institute (RLI), a grant project organized by the California Rare Book School and funded by the Mellon Foundation. RLI was established to provide resources for libraries to establish print collections at their institutions in order to bring about meaningful, social change in their communities.
The new collection will be located on the second floor of the library. Because of the ephemeral nature of the collection, students can use the collection only inside the library. Staff and faculty members may check out up to three collections of zines for three weeks, for use in their classrooms. The library can also facilitate zine workshops for classes upon request. Please contact Outreach Librarian Liz Brown, [email protected], for details. If you would like to view the archival zine collection, please reach out to Archivist Mary Rupp at [email protected] to make an appointment.
The library will be celebrating this new collection with several programs this fall. A launch party will be held from 5 – 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 5. All members of the campus are invited to enjoy some refreshments and browse the new materials. Instructors are particularly welcome, to discuss how they can use the collection in their classrooms.
On Saturday, September 7 from 2 – 4 p.m. there will be a zine making workshop in the library, 2nd floor Apse. Learn how to make your own zine, filled with drawing, writing, collage and more. All supplies will be provided.
The library will also be sponsoring with the Pikes Peak Zine Festival (PPZF) to hold the local small press publishing event on the UCCS campus. PPZF will be held in Berger Hall from 1 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 5. Come meet local zine makers and artists and peruse their work. Admission is free.
For further information or to add your zines to the collection, please get in touch with Outreach Librarian Liz Brown.