Opening the door to the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries feels a little like entering an oasis. After navigating the hot Chicago streets and crowded Art Institute lobby, the quiet of the library room is welcoming, not oppressive. It also doesn’t … Continue reading
I’ve wanted to visit the Zine Archive and Publishing Project (ZAPP) ever since I heard the words “zine archive” for the first time in July. Yes you heard that right folks this is an actual archive for zines! After much too long I finally had the chance to visit and tour ZAPP as a part of ALA Midwinter 2013. I don’t have a lot of photos (and the ones I did get are LOW quality), but I can assure you that this archive, which was founded in 1996 and which contains more than 20,000 zines, does not disappoint.
The archive contains zines of all genres and many rare items including early copies of Giant Robot and Bitch (!!!) from when they were still being disseminated in zine form. While the archive space is small, it invites visitors to linger over the diverse collection – most of which is directly accessible to all visitors. In addition to simply archiving zines, ZAPP also provides space and materials for folks who want to try to create their own zines.
Visiting ZAPP was awesome and well worth the wait. My only regret is that I didn’t have more time to explore! I’m also pretty bummed that I don’t live in Seattle (this will likely become a recurring theme) because if I did, I would totally volunteer here.
To learn more about ZAPP, check out their website: hugohouse.org/content/zapp
Library Excursionist 