If you’re a zine lover or have never read one but are curious, you can find about about 400 zines from around the country, featuring stories about the Black Panthers to skateboarding, at Indy’s East 38th Street library branch.
Librarian Joanna Conrad started the collection a few years back with a grant from the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. She made sure to include a diverse pool of authors and creators and worked with distributors from around the country to get zines.
“They’re really accessible to people,” Conrad said. “It’s a way to be expressive. I think people are used to blogging and social media, and this is another way to do that, that’s more tactile and doesn’t just disappear.”
Here’s a glimpse into the collection.
‘Slave Nation’ by The Kwiatjowski Press
Published in 2020, “Slave Nation” includes illustrations depicting the realities of those living under the poverty line in Denver. From home foreclosures to substance abuse, the zine paints a harsh reality that many Americans face.
‘Small Pants Big Wheels’ by Rickv
This illustrated memoir follows a young Rickv’s love of skateboarding from 1986-1993. The zine traces his journey from learning how to ollie to making childhood friends with his fellow skaters.
‘Burn it Down’ by Heather Anacker
If you’ve ever wanted to burn it all down and start anew, these short essays and illustrations give you the playbook.
‘Skurt Cobain: A zine about the 1990s’ by Jolie Ruin
From the Riot Grrrl movement to grunge to odes to Lisa Simpson, this zine includes mini-essays, drawings and poetry to capture what life was like in the 1990s. Ruin’s nostalgic trip back in time is about as punk rock as it gets.
‘My Personal History of Race’ by Lauren Hage
Lauren Hage shares mini-essays on the challenges of growing up Middle Eastern in Southern Indiana, trying to pass for white in her younger years and coming to terms with her identity. The zine, which was made in 2017, features illustrations of the Moroccan lamps from her home growing up, flowers and more.
‘Mental Realness Mag’ by Iman Nicole Simone
In this special issue of the magazine: “For Black Femmes by Black Femmes,” poetry and artwork about queerness, Black femininity and growing up trans all take centerstage.
‘The Bagshaw Estate’ by Jesse Knierum
Fans of Dungeons & Dragons can use this zine to create a roleplaying excursion made for one to four players and a referee. After the death of the proprietor, “The Bagshaw Estate” is set to be demolished by the city, but not before curious folks get a chance to find what the storied estate hides.
‘I F*cking Love this Album’ by Chops
Published in 2015, this zine features short essays by writers waxing poetic about their favorite albums, and other music-related media to celebrate music in all its forms. From Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” to the 1994 comedy “Airheads,” this zine is a deep-dive into some of the most celebrated classics.
‘Surely They’ll Tear it Down’ by unknown
Created in winter 2020, “Surely They’ll Tear it Down” explores gender, identity and the need to define ourselves. Made up of text blocks and essays, the zine also serves to reject the idea of what gender is supposed to mean in our society.
‘Gateway’ by Khaila King
Created by Khaila King, who works at the East 38th Street Branch, “Gateway” contains poetry and artwork, including a self portrait. It focuses on living too much in your head, womanhood and giving yourself grace.
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