Denver Zine Library
Words: Maytina
Words: Maytina
Zine libraries are an important way to get independent press out to people who may otherwise never experience it. Kelly, who helps out with the Denver Zine Library answered a few questions for us on what it's all about.
A little background about the Denver Zine Library please. When did it open?
The Denver Zine Library officially opened on December 6, 2003. It's currently open to the public on Saturdays from 11am-7pm and Sundays from 1pm-5pm, as well as by appointment.
Whose idea was it? What was involved in getting it going?
The story of the library s origins will probably differ, depending on who you ask. I got into the zine scene after getting to know Jamez and was amazed at the number of zines in his personal collection. When he said that his dream was to start a zine library, I just nodded and thought it was a great idea. Over time we talked about it more, and I began to realize that this was a possibility for the near future. In July of 2003, Jamez and I moved from Washington, DC, to Denver, CO, bringing almost 2,000 zines. We started exploring the local scene, trying to figure out if something like this already existed or if there was interest, etc. Through the Breakdown Book Collective and Community Space, we found some awesome folks who were not only interested in making this happen, but were already working on a similar project. Molly (So What?) told us about a zine collection at Double Entendre (an independent music store) that they had hoped to turn into a library. We called an initial planning meeting and were amazed when about 10 people showed up. After that, we met every other week for a few months, with work parties sometimes on the alternate weeks (to fix up the space, decide how to categorize zines, input them into the computer catalog, etc.) In addition to Jamez collection, Paul, the owner of Double Entendre, gave us all of the zines that he had been storing. John Porcellino (King Cat Comics) and Misun Oh (Tearjerker) gave us their collections before moving to San Francisco. And with that, we started the library. Other donations of various sizes have come in since then.
On December 5th, we had our opening event, which drew over 60 people. Several zinesters read, and local musicians played, while folks piled into the smallish library space, eating donated bagels and such.
Is it all volunteer-run? How do you make that work?
The library is completely volunteer run. We have an open collective that has monthly planning meetings, and folks sign up for volunteer shifts to keep the space open. We have basically no budget, so we have to get creative. Most of the zine holders are cereal boxes cut diagonally. All of the shelves and furniture were donated. All of the zines have been donated. I'm thrilled at the responses we have been getting when people find out we exist. And we're always looking for more donations.
Also, we have been selling zine grab bags that consist of any doubles of zines in our collection. That s been good for covering the cost of flyers and postage. Whenever someone mails a donation to the library, they get something back from us.
What challenges have you run into in the time you've been involved with the zine library?
The biggest challenge has been getting people to come out to the library. It seems that a lot of people in Denver know about it, and are planning on coming, but they haven't made it there yet. We are also always looking for people to fill volunteer shifts. Luckily, there has been a good amount of interest. And, with the aid of our new online volunteer schedule, we re hoping shifts will be picked up easier.
What do you see happening in the future for the zine library?
Someday, we hope to have non-profit status and get some grants in order to make the library into a resource space. At the moment, it is located in my backyard in a studio that was converted from a garage. It has electricity and is in a great location, but it would be great to be in a storefront eventually. In the near future, we'd like to have more events to draw people to the library. These might include zine-making parties (we have various office supplies and two typewriters), speakers, and live music. However, that stuff might have to wait until Spring. The library has a space heater, but is never too much warmer than outside, and that means that it s pretty cold once the sun has set.
Is the scene in Denver receptive to the Zine Library?
Folks in Denver have been amazing. Everyone seems to think that the zine library is a great idea and lots of people have been supporting us in different ways.
How long have you been involved in independent publications? Are you current working on any side projects?
I've been involved with zines for a little over a year. In that time, I've published a bunch of one-shot zines: Do As I Say, Not As I Do: Family Lessons to Unlearn, Bodily Fluids, Technological Disadvantages, These hands can, and Someday very soon.
Jamez has been involved with zines for about 8 years and has been publishing his own for nearly 6. He's done about 50 zines in that time, including: Sex, Death, & Ronald MacDonald, Burn In Hell, Buddy!, Limited Delivery Area, Transcendence, RAW, and The Great Plastic Elevator.
Aside from Jamez and myself, the most consistent volunteer is Mark T, who publishes Dingbat. Lots of other zinesters are involved with the library at varying levels, and that means that between us all, there are countless side projects going on.