The Progressive Librarians Guild - UA Chapter is working with the Dry River Collective to organize and catalog the infoshop library of books and zines. The document provides information on what an infoshop is, what types of materials can be found in an infoshop library including books, videos, periodicals, and zines. It also discusses how infoshop libraries are typically organized in a user-friendly and inclusive manner compared to traditional libraries, and presents options for cataloging and organizing the Dry River infoshop library using subject headings and a visual classification system.

2. 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

3. 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
Artwork by Dorothy Gambrell of Cat and Girl
society.

4. 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?

5. 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

6. What is an infoshop?
What do infoshops offer?
• Self-defense classes
• Space for bands to play
• Freestore
• Screenprinting workshops
• Zine-making workshops • Privacy
• Spanish classes • Internet, computers, copies
• Lend tools, food pantry • Speakers, discussions
• Safe haven
• Darkroom
• Library

7. What do you find in an Infoshop Library?
• Books
• Videos(VHS/DVD)/music
• Periodicals/newsletters
• Zines

8. What is the difference between an
Infoshop Library and a ‘Regular' Library?
Infoshop Libraries ‘Regular’ Libraries
PURPOSE Share alternative info & Share info & provide space
provide haven for use of library materials
ORGANIZATION Unique SH: user-friendly & LCSH; classification by Dewey,
inclusive; classification by color LoC or other (not very user
or topic friendly)
TECHNOLOGY If any: OSS or free Sophisticated ILS and OPAC
collaborative software (must train catalogers)
(LibraryThing)
USERS Working class, activists, Often middle class
homeless, travelers
CIRCULATION Anonymity important, Circulation records track library
circulation often not recorded info, user info, fines, etc.
ACQUISITIONS Donations, trades, Purchased from major
resources made in-house vendors
FUNDING Donations, dumpstering Taxpayer money or private
items, small fund raisers funds, donations

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. What is a zine?
What problems do zines pose for
information professionals?
• Cataloging
• Classification
• Preservation
• Acquisitions & Collection
Development
From barnardzines.livejournal.com

13. What is a zine?
Zine Library Examples
Anchor Archive Zine Library SLCPL Zine Collection
Organized by Subject Organized by Author (alpha)

14. How can we organize infoshop libraries?
• Classification:
— Subject
— Alphabetical Order
• Browsable or Searchable Catalogs:
— Print version or Spreadsheet Catalog
— Web 2.0 Catalog
— Integrated Library System

15. 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

16. How can we organize infoshop libraries?
Web 2.0 Catalog
The Bloom Collective EXILE Infoshop
Goodreads LibraryThing
— One book — 367 items: about 30 tags

18. How can we organize infoshop libraries?
Integrated Library System
Open Source Software Joomla Koha Drupal
What is it? Content Integrated Library CMS
Management System (ILS)
System (CMS)
How has it been used? Designing Catalog, circulation, Same as Joomla, but
library websites acquisitions, serials, also: custom ILS at
–integrate web reserves, even library Anchor Archive Zine
2.0 into user branch relationships Library
interface for
online catalogs
System requirements PHP, MySQL, Apache, MySQL, Linux PHP, MySQL, Apache
Apache & Perl
Customizable for small Possible, but no Bibliographic system Yes, free and available
libraries and Infoshops? example of ILS relies heavily on MARC add-on modules,
enabling add- including the
ons. Circulation module
written by the
Anchor Archive
team

19. How can we organize infoshop libraries?
Patron records on computers -- The risk
• The Long Haul
Berkeley, California

20. What works for Dry River?
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.

21. 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!

22. 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.

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

24. 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

25. What works for Dry River?
Cataloging
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]

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. Why should LIS professionals care about infoshops?
• Public libraries overlooking
community needs and wants
• Better understand non-user
populations
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/7423/radlib.html
• Work with infoshops: share
space, incorporate collection
if infoshops not sustainable
• Improve outreach
Papercut Zine Library
capabilities

30. 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

31. Opening Reception for
Dry River Library
May 2009!
TBA

32. 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].

33. 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.

34. 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/

35. 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/.

36. 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].

37. 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!

38. 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 Art by Freya Harrison
PLG-UA – http://sirls.arizona.edu/PLG