The Project

Progressive Librarians Guild - UA Chapter is working with the Dry River Collective to organize their infoshop library of books and zines.

Keywords: infoshop, zine, DIY, opensource, user-friendly, participatory democracy, community outreach, cataloging

PLG-UA Statement of Purpose

As the University of Arizona Chapter of Progressive Librarians Guild, we strive to uphold and promote social responsibility and diverse points of view through participation in the LIS field. We believe that direct communication on progressive issues with LIS students and professionals, as well as the community, will provide opportunities for improving libraries and communities for all. Through cooperative discussion, projects, and direct action on myriad subjects, and from multiple viewpoints, we aspire to attain the ideals of a true democratic society.

Artwork by Dorothy Gambrell of Cat and Girl

Objectives

•  What is an infoshop?

•  What do you find in an infoshop library?

•  What is a zine and why are zines important?

•  How can zines be organized?

•  How are infoshop libraries organized?

•  What works for Dry River?

•  Why should LIS professionals care about infoshops?

What is an infoshop?

•  Collectively-run, non-hierarchical autonomous community space

•  Place to chat, debate, argue, inquire, inform, read, meet, & learn

•  Appeal to those who might be considered outcasts of society

What is an infoshop?

What do infoshops offer?

•  Self-defense classes •  Space for bands to play •  Freestore •  Screenprinting workshops •  Zine-making workshops •  Spanish classes •  Lend tools, food pantry

•  Privacy •  Internet, computers, copies •  Speakers, discussions •  Safe haven •  Darkroom •  Library

What do you find in an Infoshop Library?

•  Books

•  Videos(VHS/DVD)/music

•  Periodicals/newsletters

•  Zines

What is the difference between an Infoshop Library and a ‘Regular' Library?

Infoshop Libraries ‘Regular’ Libraries PURPOSE Share alternative info &

provide haven Share info & provide space for use of library materials

ORGANIZATION Unique SH: user-friendly & inclusive; classification by color or topic

LCSH; classification by Dewey, LoC or other (not very user friendly)

TECHNOLOGY If any: OSS or free collaborative software (LibraryThing)

Sophisticated ILS and OPAC (must train catalogers)

USERS Working class, activists, homeless, travelers

Often middle class

CIRCULATION Anonymity important, circulation often not recorded

Circulation records track library info, user info, fines, etc.

ACQUISITIONS Donations, trades, resources made in-house

Purchased from major vendors

FUNDING Donations, dumpstering items, small fund raisers

Taxpayer money or private funds, donations

What is a zine?

•  Self-published •  Ephemeral •  Voice of common person •  Not published for money •  DIY (do it yourself) periodical •  Cut-&-paste style •  Photocopied •  Low print runs

“Zines celebrate the everyperson in a world of celebrity” (Duncombe 1997).

Artwork by Cristy C. Road

What is a zine? Zinesters

Who makes zines? Who reads zines?

•  Sunday to Saturday by Don Fitch

•  Tard Nation by Aaron Rat

•  Indestructible (and many others) by Cristy C. Road

From Microcosm Publishing – microcosmpublishing.com

What is a zine? Why are zines important, or: why should libraries care?

•  Primary sources on culture, slang / language, society

•  Bring in traditionally underserved

•  Support participatory democracy

•  ALA says so

What is a zine? What problems do zines pose for

information professionals?

• Cataloging

• Classification

• Preservation

• Acquisitions & Collection Development

From barnardzines.livejournal.com

What is a zine? Zine Library Examples

Anchor Archive Zine Library

Organized by Subject

SLCPL Zine Collection

Organized by Author (alpha)

•  Classification:

— Subject

— Alphabetical Order

•  Browsable or Searchable Catalogs:

— Print version or Spreadsheet Catalog

— Web 2.0 Catalog

— Integrated Library System

How can we organize infoshop libraries?

How can we organize infoshop libraries? Print version or Spreadsheet Catalog

Solidarity Revolutionary Center — no electronic catalog

 Books: Subject

Cascadia Rising Infoshop — one spread sheet online

 Books, videos, zines: Title, Author, Section

The InfoShop — Print & MS Excel Spreedsheet & html

 Books: Section, Author, Title, Abstract, Year  Zines: Title, Year/Issue, Contact Info, Subject Folder, Key Words  Videos: Title, Format, Category, Type, Notes  Periodicals: Title, Cost of Subscription, Frequency, Other

How can we organize infoshop libraries? Web 2.0 Catalog

EXILE Infoshop LibraryThing — 367 items: about 30 tags

The Bloom Collective Goodreads — One book

How can we organize infoshop libraries? Integrated Library System

Yes, free and available add-on modules, including the Circulation module written by the Anchor Archive team

Bibliographic system relies heavily on MARC

Possible, but no example of ILS enabling add-ons.

Customizable for small libraries and Infoshops?

PHP, MySQL, Apache Apache, MySQL, Linux & Perl

PHP, MySQL, Apache

System requirements

Same as Joomla, but also: custom ILS at Anchor Archive Zine Library

Catalog, circulation, acquisitions, serials, reserves, even library branch relationships

Designing library websites –integrate web 2.0 into user interface for online catalogs

How has it been used?

CMS Integrated Library System (ILS)

Content Management System (CMS)

What is it?

Drupal Koha Joomla Open Source Software

How can we organize infoshop libraries? Patron records on computers -- The risk

•  The Long Haul Berkeley, California

Dry River Library's Mission Statement:

Dry River, functioning as a radical resource center, hosts a library in order to provide an array of radical books in an attempt to educate and inspire. We believe in an anti-authoritarian, autonomous, hate-free future and we believe that education is one of many vessels through which to get there. We are here for you to find useful information, good reads, and inspiring, dangerous ideas.

What works for Dry River?

What works for Dry River? A Reading Rainbow

An aesthetic rainbow forces browsing.

For meaningful color, assign each Subject Heading a unique-colored sticker.

Colored stickers become a visualized classification system!

What works for Dry River? Subject Headings (SH) & Visualized Classification System (VCS)

VCS: Keep it clean and simple!

— Layered colors = too complicated

SH: Use a layered system for cataloging! — Broad SH and specialized subheadings aid in searching the catalog

SH & VCS: Two distinct concepts that provide subject-based access.

Dry River will have:

•  Broad subject headings layered w/specialized subheadings

— Layered SH optimize catalog searching

•  A Reading Rainbow as a visualized classification system:

— Color-coded stickers for simple classification by broad subject headings optimize item location

What works for Dry River? Subject Headings (SH) & Visualized Classification System (VCS)

What works for Dry River? Cataloging

Why we chose Library Thing: •  Allows authorities -- administrator tags (SH)

•  Users can contribute -- community tags & reviews •  Doesn't track circulation

Schema/fields work in progress based on Dry River's input

•  Template: — title — author — publication date — location — broad subject headings (admin. tag) — specialized, layered subheadings (admin. tag) — comments/summary — sticker color — book/zine # — checked out [date]

What works for Dry River? Cataloging

What works for Dry River? What about the zines?

Problems and Solutions for the Zine Collection:

• Subject headings chosen by Dry River

• Zine and book subject headings match

• Zines classified by the Visual Classification Scheme, same as books

What works for Dry River? Circulation Privacy vs. Transparency

Circulation System: •  Simple ID numbers instead of barcodes

•  (Book 5 would just be 5) •  (Zine 5 would be Z5)

•  LibraryThing tag, [checkedout_date] •  Excludes user information: privacy •  Still shows accurate circulation information

•  Checkout period is flexible

What works for Dry River?

Collection Development & Acquisitions

–  Policy –  Donations –  Read Between the Bars

Preservation –  Nothing in place –  Everything circulates –  But: low circulation rate

Multnomah County Public Library

Why should LIS professionals care about infoshops?

•  Public libraries overlooking community needs and wants

•  Better understand non-user populations

•  Work with infoshops: share space, incorporate collection if infoshops not sustainable

•  Improve outreach capabilities

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/7423/radlib.html

Papercut Zine Library

Conclusion - Review

We hope you learned:

•  What is an infoshop is

•  What you can find in an infoshop library

•  What a zine is and why zines are important

•  How infoshop libraries are organized

•  What worked for a local infoshop's library (Dry River)

•  Why LIS professionals should care about infoshops

Opening Reception for Dry River Library

May 2009! TBA

Bibliography Anchor Archive Zine Library. (2008). Anchor Archive Zine Library. Retrieved February 5, 2009 from

http://www.robertsstreet.org/n/zine-library

Bartel, J. (2004). From A to zine: Building a winning zine collection in your library. Chicago: ALA Editions.

Biblios.net. (2008). How it works: The cataloging and productivity suite. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from https://biblios.net/how.

The Bloom Collective. (2009). Resources. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://thebloomcollective.org/resources/.

Cascadia Rising Infoshop. (n.d.). Cascadia Rrising Infoshop. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www.geocities.com/crinfoshop/.

Chepesiuk, R. (1997). The zine scene: Libraries preserve the latest trend in publishing (fanzines). American Libraries 28(2): p.68 [electronic resource].

de Vries, D. (2001). Infoshops in the USA. Retrieved February 12, 2009, from http://www.unc.edu/~devries/internationalist/infoshops.html

Dodge, C. (1995). Pushing the boundaries: Zines and libraries. Wilson Library Bulletin 69: p.26-30 [electronic resource].

Bibliography continued Dodge, C. (1998). Media-junkie paradise: Where to go when your library lets you down. Utne Reader [electronic

resource]. Retrieved February 8, 2009 from http://www.utne.com/1998-11-01/Media-junkieParadise.aspx.

Dodge, C. (1998). Taking libraries to the street: Infoshops & alternative reading rooms. American Libraries 29(5): p. 62 [electronic resource]. Retrieved from LITA database.

Dodge, C. (2008). Collecting the wretched refuse: Lifting a lamp to zines, military newspapers, and Wisconsinalia. Library Trends 56(3): p.667 [electronic resource].

Drupal. (2009). System requirements. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://drupal.org/requirements.

Drupalib. (2008). Using Drupal in Libraries: a place for library Drupallers to hang out. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from http://drupalib.interoperating.info/forum/3.

Duncombe, S. (1997). Notes from underground: Zines and the politics of alternative culture. Bloomington, IN: Microcosm Publishing.

EXILE Infoshop. (n.d.) EXILE Infoshop. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www.exilebooks.org/.

Exile_Infoshop. (2008). Librarything profile. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://wwww.librarything.com/profile/exile_infoshop.

Bibliography continued Freedman, J. (2005). Zinebrarianship: Develop a collection at your institution [Word document]. Retrieved from

Madison Zine Fest 2005, conference handout, http://bc.barnard.columbia.edu/~jfreedma/talks/MZF_handout.doc

Freedman, J. (2006). Your zine tool kit, a DIY collection. Library Journal. Retrieved February 5, 2009 from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6341863.html (Also available at: http://www.barnard.edu/library/zines/webbeta/librarians.htm)

Freedman, J. (2007). Barnard zines cataloging: Library of Congress [Google Docs Spreadsheet]. Retrieved from Zine Libraries Interest Group post, February 5, 2009, http://zinelibraries.info/2007/10/26/zine-lcsh-cataloging-resource/

Freedman, J. (2008). AARC2—Bendable but not flexible: Cataloging zines at Barnard College. In K.R. Roberto (Ed.), Radical cataloging: Essays at the front (p. 231-240). North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc.

Gisonny, K. & Feedman, J. (2006). Zines in libraries: How, what and why? Collection Building 25(1): p.26-30 [electronic resource].

Howarth-Schueler, Z. & Stevens, A. (2008). Anchor Archive zine cataloging blogue. Retrieved February 5, 2009 from http://blog.anchorarchive.ath.cx/

Bibliography continued Hsu, H. (2007, May 6). File under other: How do libraries -- institutions that by nature require a strict, stately style

of micromanagement -- assimilate these self-published and occasionally category-defying dispatches from the cultural hinterlands? The Boston Globe. Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/05/06/file_under_other/

Hubbard, C. (2005). DIY in the stacks: A study of three public library zine collections. Public Libraries 44(6): p.351-4 [electronic resource].

Infoshop Network. (n.d.). Infoshop Network. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://infoshopnetwork.org/.

Joomla. (2007). Joomla in libraries: Getting started. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://www.joomlainlibrary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=16.

Joomla. (2009). Core features. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://www.joomla.org/about-joomla/core-features.html.

Joomla. (2009). Technical requirements. Retrieved February 20, 2009, http://www.joomla.org/about-joomla/technical-requirements.html.

Koha. (2008). Koha requirements. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://www.koha.org/download/.

Bibliography continued Kucsma, J. (2002). Countering marginalization: Incorporating zines into the library. Library Juice 5(6)

supplement. Retrieved February 8, 2009 from http://libr.org/juice/issues/vol5/LJ_5.6.sup.html.

The Long Haul Infoshop. (2008, September 17). Longstanding Berkeley community center raided by FBI. Message posted to http://thelonghaul.org/?cat=5.

The Madison Infoshop. (n.d.). Madison InfoShop resources. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www.madisoninfoshop.org/.

Prpic Hedtke, L. (n.d.). Cereal boxes and milk crates: Zine libraries and info shops are … now [Zine]. Order a copy from author at polkaostrich@gmail.com.

Radical Reference. (2005). Alternative Libraries and Infoshops. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www.radicalreference.info/altlibraries.

Rochkind, J. (2009). Biblios.net and the future of cataloging. Retrieved February 19, 2009, from http://bibwild.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/bibliosnet-and-the-future-of-cataloging/.

Stoddart, R.A. & Kiser, T. (2004). Zines and the library. Library Resources & Technical Services 48(3): p.191 [electronic resource].

Bibliography continued Solidarity Revolutionary Center. (2008). Solidarity Revolutionary Center. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from

http://www.myspace.com/solidaritycenter.

Yeo, S, Rane, J.J., Jacobs, J.R., Friedman, L., & Freedman, J. (2005). Radical Reference: taking information to the street. Information Outlook. Retrieved September 20, 2007 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWE/is_6_9/ai_n14695649

Zine World. (2008). A reader's guide to the underground press: Infoshops and zine libraries. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www.undergroundpress.org/zine-resources/infoshops-zine-libraries/.

Zinelibrarians discussion list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/zinelibrarians

Zinelibraries.info. (2007). Zine Libraries Interest Group. Retrieved February 5, 2009 from http://zinelibraries.info/

Special thanks to Dr. Hong Cui for advising this project!

Q&A or Discussion

Contact for presenters:

Kristen - kkcure@email.arizona.edu Nicole - nfp@email.arizona.edu

Other Information:

Dry River – http://www.dryriver.org

PLG-UA – http://sirls.arizona.edu/PLG

Art by Freya Harrison