Aesthetics of Research: Breaking Canons and Building Community: Zines, DEI, and the Academic Library

Zine culture and independent publishing have a long history of radically de-centering culture and media across genres and communities.  Often an easy access point for new voices and perspectives, zines, with their accessibility in terms of production (cost, dissemination, etc ) serve as a hinge in opening up culture and canons. The Columbia College Library’s Zine programming , which includes monthly Library Zine Nights, a Zine Exchange, classroom workshops, and connections with Chicago communities of practice, also serves as a doorway into further probing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion discussions, both in libraries and creative communities. This presentation will showcase the benefits of sustaining zine-related programming and education in academic libraries, as well as ways other libraries can build their own zine programming and communities.