World Infoshops & Zine Libraries

If you see an incorrect listing here (or know of a reading room that’s not listed), please write

Zine World
PO Box 330156
Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0156 USA

or e-mail

jerianne@undergroundpress.org.

Argentina

Biblioteca Popular José Ingenieros, Ramíres de Velasco 958 (1414), Buenos Aires, Argentina; 00-5411-4857-6404; biblioteca_pji@yahoo.com.ar; http://www.nodo50.org/bpji

Holds probably the second largest archive of anarchist material in South America; dedicated to the preservation of anarchist history, popular education, and radical opposition. Accepts donations of books and other publications. Founded in 1935. Open W afternoon/evening.

La Fanzinoteca, Calle 6, n. 420 (entre 40 y 41), La Plata (Buenos Aires), Argentina

Started in 2003; contains zines and comics. Open 4-8 p.m. M, Tu, W.

Australia

Barricade Books/Infoshop, PO Box 199, East Brunswick, Victoria, 3056, Australia; drop-in: currently closed; infoshop@barricade.anarki.net; http://barricade.org.au/, http://www.myspace.com/barricadebooks

Anarchist bookshop & meeting space; open since Feb. 1995. "Barricade Books / Infoshop sells a range of anarchist and radical badges, books, comics, CDs, pamphlets, patches, posters, stickers, T-shirts and zines. We organise meetings and public discussions, screen videos, and host an extensive anarchist and activist resource library." Also has an extensive lending library. Planning to re-open in new anarchist space.

Visible Ink, Valley, 54 Berwick St., Fortitude Valley, Q 4006, Australia; 02-3403-0136; chrissie.nowland@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Loophole Infoshop, 834A High St., Thornbury VIC 3071, Australia; 61-3-9484-8012; loopholecommunitycentre@gmail.com; http://loophole.shiftingspace.coop

"A politically engaged community library of books, magazines, journals, newspapers, zines, music, and films. All materials are donated. Most zines are locally produced but a substantial portion come from outside Australia." Includes zines on political philosophies, feminism, gender and sexuality, social change and activism, race, health, prisoner rights, DIY living, and several other categories.

Murdoch University Library, PO Box 1014, Canning Vale, DC WA 6970; drop-in: South St., Murdoch WA 6150, Australia; 08-9360-2563; http://www.slv.vic.gov.au

Sci-fi fanzine collection. "We started collecting fanzines in 1974. We have the largest National Collections of fanzines in these areas and maintain contacts with the wider zine world."

Octapod Zine Library, The Octapod Association, 3/231 King St., Newcastle NSW, 2300, Australia; 02-4927-0470; podadmin@octapod.org; http://octapod.org

"The Octapod Zine Library is one of Australia’s oldest, largest and most significant collections of zines. A broad range of zines covering the past 15 years are included in the collection. A project is currently underway to catalogue the zines. Community members are invited to get involved in a collective to manage the zines as part of Octapod’s new Community Media Space?a space dedicated to DIY media makers and independent publishers."

State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston St., Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia; 613-8664-7002; info@slv.vic.gov.au; http://www.slv.vic.gov.au; ask for John Stevens when enquiring about the zine collection

Most zines are held within the Rare Printed Collection, although some zines are found within the general collection. There is an emphasis on collecting local materials. "The collection that we’re building (in Rare Printed) is as yet only sparsely catalogued, and quite informally, at that. ? We are in the process of making information accessible through our electronic catalogue."

Susan Smith-Clarke Fanzine Collection, National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia; http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/s-clarke.html

"It would not be unfair to say that Susan Smith-Clarke is one of the founding mothers of media SF fandom in Australia." Collection includes a variety of sci-fi fanzines, apazines, convention publications, and sci-fi ephemera.

Canada

Anchor Archive Zines Library, 5684 Roberts St., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 1J6, Canada; 902-446-1788; anchorarchive@gmail.com; http://anchor.revolt.org

"The Anchor Social Centre is in a little red house in Halifax. It includes the Anchor Archive Zine Library, Ink Storm Screenprinting Collective, and Crow’s Nest space. Our zine library with over 1,500 zines, local and international, that get lent out to members. We also sell local zines through our distro, teach zine and screenprinting classes to community groups, host a summertime artist/writer/zinemaker-in-residence program, and have an ongoing public education series of workshops and events. Donations welcome." Open 2-5p.m. Su, 6-9 p.m. Tu or by appointment.

Bibliograph/e, c/o #3-765 Ave. Champagneur, Montreal QC H2V 3P9 Canada; http://www.myspace.com/bibliograph

"Bibliograph/e is Montreal’s first bilingual public-access zine library and reading room. Our goal is to promote and preserve the culture of independent literature and media by providing an accessible, archival space for bookworks created outside the mainstream. Bibliograph/e provides a link between bookmakers and the public, and aims to encourage participation in independent media through workshops, film nights, and artist talks."

Calgary Zine Library; in the Good Life Community Bike Shop at Eau Claire Market-201, 200 Barclay Parade SW; thezinetreecollective@riseup.net; Hours: Sunday 11 – 5, Monday 10 – 6, Tuesday 10 – 6, Wednesday 10 – 6, Thursday 10 – 6, Friday 10 – 8, Saturday 10 – 6

Edmonton Small Press Association (ESPA), PO Box 75086, Ritchie Postal Outlet, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6K1; drop-in: Room #9, 6th Fl., Stanley A. Milner Library, #7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq., Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2V4; 780-434-9236; contact@edmontonsmallpress.org, http://www.edmontonsmallpress.org

"The ESPA is an incorporated, non-profit association with a social justice mandate that is committed to fostering the awareness and development of independent small press ventures. The ESPA has a collection of thousands of publications from around the world, specializing in small press, art books, mail art, radical literature and independent/ activist film/video. Donations of any zines or other media, including counter-culture ephemera, welcome. ESPA is volunteer-operated with irregular hours, therefore access to the zine library is currently by appointment only. Email or call if you would like to visit the infoshop or attend a meeting."

EXILE Infoshop, #203 – 256 Bank St (2nd floor), Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1X4, Canada; 613-237-9270; exilebooks@riseup.net; exilebooks.org

Collectively run radical resource center, library, and bookstore. "We sell zines of all kinds in our bookstore and archive them in our library. There isn’t a particular focus on what we’ll carry, though the emphasis has been largely on zines relating to issues of social justice." Open W-Su.

Junco Local 91, 2nd Floor, 91 Albert St., Winnipeg Manitoba R3B 1G5, Canada; 204-942-6994; drop-in: right above Mondragon Coffehouse & Bookstore; juntolocal91@fastmail.fm; http://junto.a-zone.org

"We have a huge range of personal, political and music zines. We are non-profit and volunteer/collectively run. Send us zines, books, publications for our community library." Open W-Sa.

Liber Libri Zine Library, 27 King William St., Hamilton ON L8R 1A1, Canada; liber.library@gmail.com; http://hamiltonzinelibrary.blogspot.com

Small, fledgling library started from a personal collection; more than 300 titles, with a large radical section and literary section. Taking donations of everything.

lowercase reading room, 3934 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 604-877-2247; inquiries@theassemblyoftext.com; http://www.lowercasebooks.wordpress.com

"The lowercase reading room was started by Jo Cook, Rebecca Dolen and Brandy Fedoruk using their personal collections of self-published zines, artist’s books, poetry chapbooks and comics as the foundation of the project. It is not a lending library but a comfortable place to settle into on an afternoon for browsing and reading. We are always collecting new books and welcome donations and suggestions." Open daily.

Regina Public Library, Box 2311, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3Z5, Canada; drop-in: 2311 – 12th Ave.; 306-777-6120; http://www.reginalibrary.ca

"We have a small but growing collection of zines in the magazine section at the main branch. The zines are catalogued and available for three-week loans." Open daily.

Sheridan Zine Library, Sheridan College Trafalgar Campus, Main Library, 1430 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville ON L6H 2L1, Canada, mailing address: c/o Jen Pilles, 11 Ascot Court, Welland ON L3C 6K7, Canada; sheridanzinelibrary@gmail.com

"The Sheridan Zine Library opened in September 2007 with the goal to spread zine culture throughout the Sheridan community, and bring the greater zine community into Sheridan. Both objectives were achieved and the zine library is thriving. The library is maintained by a collective called the Sheridan Self Publishers, who host an annual zine fair called Gettazine."

Toronto Zine Library, c/o Tara Bursey, 68 Crawford St., Toronto ON M6J 2V2, Canada; drop-in: TRANZAC, 292 Brunswick Ave., 2nd floor; torontozinelibrary@hotmail.com; http://www.sitekreator.com/zinelibrary/index.html

"The Toronto Zine Library is run by a collective of zine readers, zine makers and librarians who are looking to make zines more accessible in Toronto. We believe that zines are still an important medium of communication, and that they should be cherished, protected, and promoted. We have approximately 1,850 items in our collection. Seeking donations and volunteers." Open daily.

Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver BC V6B 6B1, Canada; 604-331-3603; zines@vpl.ca; http://www.vpl.ca

Starting a collection, will become available in 2008. Circulating collection. Interested in regional zines for both teens and adults.

Welland Zine Library, c/o Jen Pilles, 11 Ascot Ct., Welland ON L3C 6K7, Canada; drop-in: 800 Niagara St., Welland; tikijen@hotmail.com

"Welland Zine Library is located at the local youth center, and is dedicated to encouraging alternative lifestyles and underground culture to the suburban youth of Welland." Takes donations of zines of all subjects. Email or write for a free Welland Zine Library info pamphlet.

Colombia

Centro De Cultura Libertaria, Cra 17 No. 61-28, Chapinero, Bogota, Colombia; 310-0810; culturalibertaria@gmail.com; http://www.anarcol.tk

Anarchist community space with regular meetings and projects, plus literature and video library. Open M-Sa 1-9 p.m.

Croatia

Infoshop Tabula Rasa, PP 18, 40315 M Sredisce, Croatia; drop-in: A. Schultheissa 19, Cakovec; http://www.actnow.hr/infoshop_index.htm

Infoshop and reading room. Takes donations of zines and other media dealing with radical, revolutionary, anarchist, libertarian, and humanitarian thought.

France

La Fanzinothéque de Poitiers, 185 rue du Fbg du Pont-Neuf, 86000 – Poitiers, France; fanzino@fanzino.org; http://www.fanzino.org

Zine library started in 1989 which organizes workshops and exhibitions. With a collection of more than 50,000 publications and documents, the zine library also has a massive archival project underway.

Les Musicophages, 6 rue de la Bourse, 31 000 Toulouse; 05 61 21 71 50; musicophages@free.fr; http://www.musicophages.org

Right now the media library, founded in 1993 in a small town outside Toulouse, is volunteer run, but they had paid staffers in the past. They moved to Toulouse in 1996. It’s a music oriented operation with a corner devoted to zines.

Kiosk Arnaud-Bernard, au 3, rue Escoussières Arnaud-Bernard, Toulouse, France 31000

Maloka Anarcho Collective, BP 536, 21014 Dijon Cedex, France; drop-in address unknown; http://www.brassicanigra.org

Germany

Archiv der Jugendkulturen, Fidicinstr. 3, 10965 Berlin, Germany; 0049-(0)30-6942934; archiv@jugendkulturen.de; http://www.jugendkulturen.de

"The Archiv der Jugendkulturen carries about 12,000 zines from different (youth) cultures (including punk/hardcore, skinheads, gothic, techno, heavy metal, science fiction, art, comics, sports, et al.) and from different countries, but mostly from Germany. People can browse through our collection, read zines in our library and copy articles or whole zines. We are always interested in getting new zines." Open M-F.

Greece

Alternative Gallery Archive, Box 20037, GR-11810, Athens, Greece; drop-in n/a; http://www.angelfire.com/wv/agarchive/introduction.html

"The Archive is self-financed. ? It only grows through donations and complimentary subscriptions given by individuals or groups that issue alternative books, journals, or zines throughout the world. … We plan to open it to the public as a documentation center within the coming years." Collection of 4,000 titles currently in storage while a space is sought.

Italy

Bastian Contrario – Archivio Nazionale Fanzine Italiane, Casella Postale 25 – 48020 Salvio RA, Italy; info@fanzineitaliane.it, http://www.fanzineitaliane.it

Contains more than 4,000 zines from the 1960s to the present; located in a private home but visits are possible with prior arrangement.

Kosovo

RL Project, c/o PF44, CH 4142 Munchenstein-3, Switzerland (address for Kosovo zine library, mail to Switzerland is more secure); drop-in: unknown

Dependant on donations, desperate need for periodicals, books, cds, videos, etc. Especially interested in politics, art and artists, and practical issues: arts & crafts, garden, home repairs. All languages are welcome.

Malaysia

Lost Generation, No. 11, Lorong Permai, Off Jin Syed Putra, Robson Heights 50460 K.L. Malaysia; 019-6838397

Mexico

La Furia de las Calles, drop-in: Plaza Revolucion locales 92 y 93, Mexico City; furia@riseup.net; http://espora.org/furia/

Anti-authoritarian / counter-cultural collective with infoshop, publishing house, zine library, workshops, artshows and film screenings, etc.

Netherlands

Boekwinkel Assata, Tweede Walstraat 21, 6511 LN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 024-3605208; assata@grotebroek.nl; http://www.grotebroek.nl

"Assata is a completely volunteer-run collective, distributing radical literature since 1991."

New Zealand

Cherry Bomb Comics, PO Box 68533, Newton, Auckland 1145, New Zealand; drop-in: n/a; info@cherrybombcomics.co.nz; http://www.cherrybombcomics.co.nz

"Cherry Bomb Comics has a free reading library which is stocked with some of the comics we sell in the shop, political texts, picture books, novels, zines and magazines. Some of this library material was kindly donated (including a selection from the former Misfit Theatre collection)." Collection is currently in storage while staff look for a new location.

Norway

Gateavisas Futurum Forlag, Hjelms gate 3, 0355 Oslo, Norway; +47-22-22466896; gateavisa@gateavisa.no; http://www.gateavisa.no

Portugal

Assoc. Cultural Rock’n'Cave, A/C Nuno Alves, Rua da Boavista 342 – Casa 86, 4050 Porto, Portugal; +351-91-462-4863; rockncave@rockncave.org; http://www.rockncave.org/

Bedeteca de Lisboa, Palácio do Contador-Mor, Rua Cidade de Lobito, Olivais Sul, Lisboa, Portugal; geral@bedeteca.com; http://www.bedeteca.com; open 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. M-F

Contains large collection of Portuguese and international fanzines with a focus on comics.

Romania

Craiova Infoshop, Popescu Adi, Aleea TeatruluI, BL.T2 Apt. 21, Craiova, DOLJ, COD 1100, Romania; revolutionshop@hotmail.com

Library and infoshop, offering meeting space, workshops, and video showings. "The place is situated in the center of the town, so it is gonna be very practical, and we hope that the impact of our activities there will be very big." Seeking donations of zines and other materials with/for anarchist purposes.

Slovenia

Elf Reading Room, c/o KUD Anarhiv, Metelkova 6, SI – 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; drop-in: in Pesaki (Infantry) building in Metelkova, a social and cultural centre in Ljubljana/Slovenia; +386 1-434-03-45; anarhiv@mail.ljudmila.org; http://www.ljudmila.org/anarhiv; English website: http://www.ljudmila.org/anarhiv/English/english.html

"Elf’s reading room is a resource centre for people interested in radical social change. It’s a place where people can get in touch with the abundance of radical, revolutionary, anti-authoritarian and libertarian thought and practice in the form of books, comics, fanzines and magazines, video and audio materials."

Spain

Centro de Documentación e Iniciativas Editoriales o Archivo Edita, Centro Cultural del Ayuntamiento de Punta Umbria, Plaza de las Artes s/n, 21100 Punta Umbria (Huelva), Spain; edita.edita@hotmail.com, http://www.ayto-puntaumbria.es

More than 10,000 publications in the process of being cataloged. Under the control of the local town council. Open to the general public.

Centro Social Liberatario, Ateneo Linertario, Apartado 3141, E-50080 Zaragoza; drop-in address: Coso 186 (bajos); +34-976383673

Comicteca de la Biblioteca Regional de Murcia, Biblioteca Regional de Murcia, Servicio de Comicteca, Avd. Juan Carlos I, 17, 30008 Murcia, Spain; http://www.bibliotecaregional.carm.es

Started in 2003 and located in a public library, this is a collection of comics (separated between material suitable for children and material suitable for adults). In 2007, the library started a department for studies/workshops regarding comics and fanzines.

CSO Miramar, Calle Balmes, 17, Canet de Mar (Barcelona), Spain; cso.miramar@gmail.com

Social center squatted in March 2007; contains a zine library open to the public. Open daily 5-9 p.m.

Fanzinacoteka La M.I.A.O., Apartado 26, 13200 Manzanares (Ciudad Real), miao.org@gmail.com

300 zines and one sofa ("the reader’s corner"). These folks sound very enthusiastic about this very young project and are always looking for new zines to add to the collection.

La Fanzinoteca Ambulant, Bergnes de las Casas 15 Bajos, 08025, Barcelona, Spain; info@fanzinoteca.net; http://www.fanzinoteca.net

Currently home to 200 zines, this project aspires to be mobile and travel around the country introducing people to zinecraft.

Fanzinoteca de las Casa de Xuventude de Ourense (Expofanzines), Casa da Xuventude, Rúa Celso Emilio Ferreiro 27, 32004 Ourense, Spain; casa@casaxou.com; http://www.casaxou.com

Zine library located in a youth center which organizes an annual comics/fanzine festival; has an online catalog.

Fanzinoteka Napartheid, Centro de Arte y Cultura Contemporánea, Arteleku / Kristobaldegi, 14, 20014 Donostia (Gipuzkoa), Spain; garillaga@gipuzkoa.net; http://www.arteleku.net

Currently located in Arteleku’s Media Center; 4,000 titles from 59 countries. 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. M-F.

El Lokal, c. La Cera 1 bix, E-08001, Barcelona, Spain; 34-3-3290643

Library contains more than 1000 books (plus publications) on anarchism, anti-militarism, sociology, ecology, feminism, and libertarianism.

M.I.A.O., Calle del Manifiesto, nº8., 13200 – Manzanares (Ciudad Real); http://www.lamiao.blogspot.com

Their focus is on cut and paste (not computer mediated) zines, especially those collectively published. The library is volunteer run and funded by participant donation.

Sweden

Bokhandeln INFO, Tjarhovsgatan 44, 116 28 Stockholm; (46)-08-644 53 12; bokhandeln.info@motkraft.net

Switzerland

Volkskundliches Seminar, der Universitaet Zürich, Zeltweg 67, 8032 Zürich, attn: Sonke Lorenzen; http://www.vk.unizh.ch; drop-in: Wiesenstrasse 7/9, 8008 Zürich

United Kingdom

56A Infoshop, 56 Crampton St., Kennington SE17, UK; info@56a.org.uk; http://www.56a.org.uk

"We are a radical, non-profit, volunteer-run bookshop. We have a huge archive of political and cultural books, magazines, leaflets, etc. on anarchic, anti-authoritarian leaning. We appreciate donations of zines, journals, and political papers and mags. All stuff is archived open-access for all our visitors."

Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 W. Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA, Scotland; 0131-557-6242; http://www.autonomous.org.uk

"ACE offers a number of resources for the community groups and individuals working to improve their lives: free leaflets and alternative newsletters, lending library of books and pamphlets, alternative media archive, meeting space for groups," and more. Accepts donations of books, magazines, and office equipment. Open Tu & Su.

Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton BN1 4JA; 01273 696104; cowleyclub@riseup.net; http://cowleyclub.org.uk

The Cowley Club is a social centre on London Road in Brighton. It houses a cafe and bookshop during the day, a members bar during the evenings, it also has a library and is a base for a variety of other projects. The club is collectively owned and run as a base for those involved in grassroots social change and those sympathetic to such activities, giving us control over our social space and resources. It is run entirely by volunteers – no one gets paid, and no one is making any profit. Instead, we are trying to provide a much needed alternative to everything else around us.

Haringey Solidarity Group, PO Box 2474, London N8, UK; drop-in: "The center is one room on the second floor of a building in central Haringey."; 0845-2235270; info@haringey.org.uk; http://haringey.org.uk

"We have a small library that stocks literature from political groups who are not connected with any political parties. These include: campaigning groups, animal rights groups, prisoner support groups, and libertarian/anarchist groups." By appointment only.

Kate Sharpley Library, BM Hurricane, London WC1N 3XX, UK; US contact: PMB #820, 2425 Channing Way, Berkeley CA 94704; info@katesharpleylibrary.net; http://www.katesharpleylibrary.net

"We have more than 10,000 English language books, pamphlets, and periodicals on anarchism. We have an equally strong collection of posters, leaflets, manuscripts, letters, and internal records. Our foreign language section covers a similar range of material in more than 20 languages. All donations of anarchist material are welcome." Founded in 1979. By appointment.

University College London, Little Magazines Department, The Library, Glower St., London WC1E 6BT, UK; 020-7679-7796; http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll/litmags.shtml

"The Little Magazines Collection was set up in 1964 as a Library initiative with the original aim of collecting all current UK little magazines and small press publications; this was soon broadened to include North American, Commonwealth, and a smaller number of significant European titles. A section of Alternative Press (or Underground Press) publications was added in the mid-1960s. More than 3,500 little magazine and alternative press titles are held in all."

The Women’s Library, attn: Beverley Kemp, Old Castle Street, London E1 7NT, UK, http://www.thewomenslibrary.ac.uk

"The Women’s Library is collecting zines that reflect women’s lives, interests, and concerns in the UK today. If you would like your zine to be part of our collection, please forward one copy with details of the place and date of publication."

Zineopolis, c/o Jackie Batey (Illustration), University of Portsmouth, School of Art, Design & Media, Eldon Bldg., Winston Churchill Ave., Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 2DJ, UK; thegaffer@zineopolis.co.uk; http://www.zineopolis.co.uk

Opened in June 2007. "Over the years we hope to build-up a representative collection of zines. We are looking for zines that are heavily illustrated or more art & design based. The content could be anything, humour, social commentary, politics, music, science fiction, comics, or made-up. We are only open to our students and research students at the moment, although we are in the process of getting a searchable collection online."

These locations have not been verified; status unknown:

List updated August 2008

Thanks to Alex Wrekk (Stolen Sharpie Revolution, http://www.smallworldbuttons.com ), Slingshot (3124 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley CA 94704, http://slingshot.tao.ca ), and Pez ( http://www.monmagan.com/pez/ ) for contributed info.