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The
NewPages Zine Rack
Reviews by Sean Stewart
Number Five: Special Edition
(Posted May 20, 2002)
Welcome to a special edition of the Zine Rack! This column
includes zines that have been published by former and current
librarians, library workers, and library school students. Some of
the zines discuss libraries and library work in them, while others
do not. Personally, I think librarians and zines are a perfect
match, seeing as both typically represent free expression of ideas
and intellectual freedom. So, I hope that you enjoy the column this
time around, and that you find some zines to order!
 america?
Number 9
This wanders into abstract territory, but the basic structure
revolves around being on tour with a punk band or bands. Content
ranges from analysis and critique of the punk community to the
vented thoughts of an older punk trapped in a smelly van with
younger peers. I liked america? primarily because I could relate to
much of what Travis writes about. I think that part of growing
older as a punk means that you end up looking much more closely at
the dynamics and motivations behind what punk is and what punks do.
So, I found myself nodding a lot as I read this, identifying with
the highs and lows of the punk community and the feeling of
ambiguous idealism that is so ingrained within it. Recommended
reading for aging punks and other interested folks. [4.25” x 5.5”,
$1 to Travis Fristoe, PO Box 13077, Gainesville, FL 32604-1077,
obscurist@hotmail.com].
 browsing
room
February 2001
Tara includes a mixture of library facts and anecdotes, personal
insights, and color photos of DeKalb Public Library in this 71-page
mini. There is a lot of information in here, and most of it centers
on libraries and library work. I could identify with some of the
more personal articles, particularly when Tara discusses being
almost 30 and still feeling unsure of her future. Her seemingly
love-hate relationship with the library where she works was kind of
hard to figure out, though. I also felt that she was making
assumptions about libraries, librarians, and library work based
almost solely upon her experiences at DeKalb Public. Still, this is
an informative zine that offers one person’s unique views on
libraries and librarians. [4.25” x 5.5”, $2 to Tara Moyle, 2621
Stuart Ave. #34, Richmond, VA 23220, taramoyle@hotmail.com].
 Clutch
January 2002
Issue 3
“Three More Weeks.” This is a highly personable autobiographical
comic drawn by Greig Means, librarian at the Independent Publishing
Resource Center in Portland. Nothing extraordinary happens in here;
it’s full of simple events and routines that occur in Greig’s daily
life. For some reason, reading this made me feel all warm inside,
and, at the same time, made me envious of Greig’s life. Working in
a zine library, drawing comix at night, and even doing housework
like vacuuming and washing dishes all seem to complete a
well-rounded life that would suit me just fine. Only problem is
that I can’t draw very well. Greig, on the other hand, creates
expressive artwork that provides an excellent complement to the text
of his storylines. For all of the above reasons, this has quickly
become one of my new favorite comix! Highly recommended. [5.5” x
8.5”, $1 (I think) to Clutch, PO Box 12409, Portland, OR 97212].
 Dwan
Number 31
This thick volume tells the remarkable story of a public access
cable TV series created by Donny Smith that turned into a battle
over first amendment rights and the public’s access to cable
television. The series took on much greater proportions than
originally expected, even ending up as a political weapon in the
Nebraska gubernatorial election race. As the controversy over the
series raged in the community, Donny and his cohorts continued
airing episodes that began to satirize the whole situation. This is
a fascinating detailed account from the point of view of the
creator, who shares personal journal entries, hate mail, letters of
support, and numerous summaries of relevant newspaper articles.
Also included are poems, dream descriptions, and scripts from
episodes of the TV series. One of the amazing things about zines is
that they enable stories like this to be told. Highly recommended.
[5.5” x 8.5”, $4, free to prisoners: Donny Smith, Box 411,
Swarthmore, PA 19081,
dwanzine@hotmail.com,
http://www.geocities.com/dwanzine].
 Library
Bonnet
Number 5
All right! More irreverent fun from the friendly folks at
Library Bonnet! I’m happy to report that they have not lost their
edge at all. This issue contains several personal articles by
Julie, as well as a couple from Tommy. Also included are more of
the outrageous drawings and bizarre collages that are a staple of
this zine. One of my personal favorites in this issue was the
“Drawing Duel,” where Tommy and Julie each had a minute to complete
a drawing of a specific object or living thing, ranging from a
guinea pig to a pumpkin. Another highlight was the illustrated
story, “A Chilling Encounter.” Julie and Tommy are completely
unapologetic in their humor, and that’s what makes Library Bonnet so
great. These folks single-handedly eradicate all traditional librarian
stereotypes with their cover art alone! Order one for yourself, and
read it with an open mind. [5.5” x 8.5”, $2 cash to Library Bonnet,
1315-I N. Tustin #259, Orange, CA 92867, fulie_4j@yahoo.com].
 Picaflor
2001
Number 2
This is a perzine by Celia Perez, who is now a librarian at a
prominent Midwest university library. She wrote most of this issue
while in her last semester of library school, and still feeling
uncertain about her future. The zine includes thoughts on the idea
of ‘home’, how interests grow and link to each other, observations
on fellow bus passengers, and two journal entries about academia and
its effects on perceptions and life experiences. I related to a lot
of what Celia wrote about, having just finished library school
myself, and feeling a bit unsure of my own future. There are
universal themes in here that, I imagine, many readers will also
relate to. [5.5” x 4.25”, trade, 2 stamps, or $1 to Celia Perez,
2527 N. California Ave., 1S, Chicago IL, 60647, perezeeb@yahoo.com,
see also her zine distro:
Frieda loves Diego].
 Rejected
Band Names
Number 7
To begin with, this includes some heavy emotional content.
Jerianne has spent much of the last year dealing with the death of
her sister, the suicide of her brother-in-law, and a troubling
period of unemployment following her move back to Tennessee. This
issue of her perzine chronicles many of the ups and downs she
experienced during this time. It’s well written and gives deep
insight into Jerianne’s personality and thinking processes. The
zine ends on an upswing, where Jerianne reports that she’s been
offered a reference clerk position in a public library. Also
included is an informative section on writing your own will, and a
page of zine recommendations. [5.5” x 8.5”, $2 cash or trade (write
for trade options, back issues available for $1): Jerianne, PO Box
330156, Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0156, jerianne@undergroundpress.org].
 Transom
Number 3
The Books Issue
This issue of Transom is a compilation of book review columns by
different people, and each column is organized around a particular
theme. Jackie (the editor) reviews books on work experiences, books
by Betty MacDonald, and paperback career romance novels. Alden
Scott Crow relates Judy Blume’s novel Deenie to his experience
wearing an orthopedic back brace. J.P. Zenger discusses four
classic right-wing paperbacks. As a conclusion to the issue, Jackie
includes a bibliography of biographical or semi-biographical movies
based on writers’ lives. Although this zine is from 1999, it still
contains some great ideas for reading material! The next issue of
Transom is destined to include a report on the results of Jackie’s
library survey. It should be a great read! [5.5” x 8.5”, $1 cash
or trade to Transom, PO Box 77716, Seattle, WA 98177-0716].
 Words
That Soak Up Life:
A Reading Compilation Zine
2001
Editor Celia Perez has put together quite a project here. This
zine includes almost 100 pages of personal reflections on the act of
reading from 23 contributors, several of whom are librarians. It’s
fascinating to read about the different ways that books and
libraries have influenced such a diverse group of people. Many
contributors also share the most influential books they’ve read and
include suggested reading lists. This is truly a one-of-a-kind
zine, and should appeal to anyone who loves to read! [5.5” x 8.5”,
$3 to $5 on sliding scale (proceeds go to either the Women’s Prison
Book Project or FirstBook) to Celia Perez, 2527 N. California Ave.,
1S, Chicago IL, 60647, perezeeb@yahoo.com]
 Zine Librarian Zine
Winter 2002
Number 1
What a cool zine! Greig has solicited reports from seven zine
librarians (including himself!) around the U.S., Canada, and
England. Each librarian shares her or his experiences with running
a zine library, including both the positive and negative aspects.
Running throughout this zine is a common thread of work enjoyment
similar to what I hear and read about in the mainstream library
community. Reports come from the Civic Media Center in Florida, the
Independent Publishing Resource Center in Oregon, and the Salt Lake
City Public Library in Utah, just to name a few. The zine is
illustrated with intriguing clip-art, and reports range in format
from comix to handwritten and cut-and-pasted. Includes a directory
to zine libraries at the end. [5.5” x 8.5”, $1 to Zine Librarian
Zine, PO Box 12409, Portland OR, 97212,
zinelibrarian@yahoo.com].
To Cumulative Index of Zines Reviewed
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