Panel: Zine Culture and Collections

This recording is presented by Princeton Public Library. This panel will explore the experiences of zine makers and curators and how zine collections have become valuable for historical research and as a teaching tool.
The zine movement gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly within punk and underground subcultures. Since then, zines have not only evolved from a subcultural phenomenon to recognized, valuable cultural artifacts. Zines are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity and importance in today's DIY culture. Libraries and archives play a crucial role in preserving and showcasing these unique expressions of creativity and political, social and artistic perspectives.
Presenters:
Megan Lotts is the art librarian at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where she embraces creativity and play when teaching, building collections, engaging with colleagues, and facilitating programming and events across the New Brunswick campuses. In 2021 the American Libraries Association published her first book, "Advancing a Culture of Creativity in Libraries: Programming and Engagement," and her second book “The Playful Library: Building Environments for Learning & Creativity” is forthcoming in June. Lotts earned an MFA and MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continues to explore and create site-specific art installations and happenings.
Mike Lupica is a former zine editor who was deeply involved in New York City's indie press scene of the 1990s. Initially published with supplies "liberated" from Kinko's Copies, Green Means Go! fanzine eventually enjoyed a run of 3000 professionally-printed copies per issue, with multi-city distribution. He is the advisor for Princeton community radio station WPRB, and hosts a weekly freeform program on Jersey City's WFMU.
Laura Poll created zines in the 1980s and '90s, and is now the default zine librarian at the Trenton Free Public Library. There she has gathered both an archival collection of "Jer-Zines" and set up a circulating zine library. In her spare time, her real job is being the archivist of the Trentoniana Local History Department where she oversees nearly 300 years of Trenton City history.
This event was recorded on March 16, 2024.