Love Your Library
Weekly Newsletter #8 of 2026
February is Library Lovers’ Month, and I am a massive fan of the library. Libraries are what are going to save us. The fact we have libraries to begin with brings me immense joy: a place where you can go, for FREE, to access books, movies, music, classes, and educational programming for FREE?! I have been a library card holder since I was a kid, my mom is also a big library fan and made sure we supported our local libraries and the resources they provide. Libraries are the ultimate third space.
I want to also note that OC Zine Fest is BACK at the Anaheim Central Library on August 15th, 2026! This partnership with the library is so lucky and I am extremely grateful that we get to host the event there. Library support of the event is so crucial. I highly recommend, if you are looking in your area to host a zine fest, to see how you could partner with your local library, especially if you live in a smaller area where zine fests aren’t as accessible. Libraries and zine fests just go hand in hand. The library supports the self published sector and local artists and writers, and the zine fest gets to promote a fun area of literacy and creative writing liberation.
If you are a zinester looking at how to maximize the local library as a support resource in your creativity and community, here are some ideas:
First, of course, there are the books. I love to not only get books for reading at my leisure, but perusing through art books and nonfiction reference sections to get interesting ideas or learn about different artists and art movements. I also like to check out books about dogs and animals to get reference images! Not to mention the graphic novel/comics or manga section, and the kids books for great illustration ideas. You can check out so many different books for brainstorming and references.
THE COPY MACHINES! Most libraries offer cheap or even free printing services, and are a fantastic place to go to make copies of your zines if you do not have the luxury of owning a printer at home (or if you don’t want to battle evil printers, which is so valid).
Speaking of the printers, most libraries should also offer computer labs and computer access, so even if you don’t have a computer at home, you can have access to a computer to look up reference images, which you could also print, or print images to collage with in your zine(s).
Looking for a place to distribute your zine for free? Ask your local library if they have a zine library in circulation, or if they may be interested in starting one! There are many libraries that feature zine collections in my local Southern California area, including at the Anaheim Central Library! We actually ask OC Zine Fest vendors to donate zines to the library in lieu of a table payment, which is so awesome. There are Long Beach library branches that feature zine sections, as well as the LA public library system!
If you’re fortunate enough to have a local library that has a zine section/collection, you can read zines from fellow zinesters there and learn about them!
Take advantage of The Library of Things. Not every library offers this service, but many are catching on to the concept of not just lending books, DVDs, CDs, video games, etc. (my local library even lends out vinyl records!) but other items such as: Cricut machines, sewing machines, and other art supplies that may otherwise be costly to purchase. Utilizing the library of things can help try out a new supply or machine, and also keep your costs low as a DIY zinester
I am lucky to live in a nice area where there are some well funded and planned out libraries, including one that has a full on creative/makers space that you can drop in to and use their machinery such as printers, sewing machines, Cricut machines, and have desk space to work on projects. I understand that this is definitely not available at all libraries, but it’s definitely worth looking into and the more you can support your library and encourage spaces like this to be used, hopefully more libraries will incorporate spaces like this!
Take some library classes! You may be surprised to find that there are art classes at the local library, or even zine workshops (I will be teaching some at the Anaheim Central Library soon, starting with one for teens in March!). Usually these are FREE and you can learn a new skill and meet folks and come away with a cool art project
Friends of the Library Bookstore, or whatever your library’s bookstore is titled. This is often a separate area from the library, where books and other items (I’ve found some great DVD and VHS scores at some) are for sale. Proceeds will go right back into supporting the library. I love to peruse through the Library Bookstore, and when the library does huge book sales too, to buy items such as: magazines for collaging, books to reference or also use for collage, and anything interesting that I feel I could use in my zine making. I’ve found old clip art books before, animal encyclopedias I used for reference photos to draw from, books with kids art projects I’ve used in my teaching curricula, and all kinds of fun things that I have used to cut up and collage with, not to mention cool art books to read and get inspiration from
A library isn’t just a quiet place to go and get books, it’s a community hub full of FREE opportunities to learn, create, grow, and connect.
Did I miss any other ways the library can be used in zine making? How do you use your library as a zinester? Does your local library also host a zine fest? I want to hear about it!
