The next time you are in Hutchins Library, you should stop by the periodicals section (near Circulation) and check out the zines currently residing at the end of our magazine/journal shelving.
What are zines? According to the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture:
zines are nonprofessional, anti-commercial, small-circulation magazines produced, published, and distributed by their creators themselves. Composed and formatted on home computers, zines are reproduced on copiers or printers, assembled on kitchen tables, and sold or swapped through the mail or made available at small book or music stores. It is estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 zines circulate in the United States and in other countries throughout the world. With names like Dishwasher, Temp Slave, Pathetic Life, Practical Anarchy, Punk Planet, and Slug & Lettuce, zines have a subject matter that ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous and sometimes the unfathomable. What binds these publications together is the prime directive “do-it-yourself.” Zines advocate that people stop shopping for culture and create their own (Duncombe 489).
To pique your interest, here is a sampling of just a few of the titles currently on display:
Our zines are not cataloged, so you won’t be able to search for them in BANC. Also, they are not a permanent part of our library collection. What does that mean to you? It means you need to come and enjoy them now, while they are here. Give yourself some time to browse the titles and be prepared to be shocked, educated, or entertained (or all three at once!)
Source:
Hutchins Library Highlights 