Book Review : From A to Zine

Product Description

This unique and comprehensive guide is a must-have for any librarian thinking about starting a zine collection. Bartel uses her experiences creating the Salt Lake City Library zine collection, currently the largest public library collection in the country, as the basis for the book. Her purpose is to inspire librarians to delve into the world of the alternative press - and inspire she does. She shares not only her experiences putting the collection together, but also of dealing with the diverse membership of the zine community, giving novices insight into its world through her own commentary and through quotations from zinesters themselves. The advice is invaluable. Beginning with a short history of zines and the culture that surrounds them, Bartel presents a compelling argument as to why public libraries should include these materials in their holdings. She embraces their controversial nature, addressing potential problems and suggesting solutions. Readers are taken step by step through the process of collection development, cataloging, and even display and publicity. Black-and-white photographs are few but are helpful in illustrating how her library's collection is organized. An outstanding effort. - Michele Capozzella, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
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