WFPL Zine Fest 2022

Banner with the text Watertown Zine Fest - Now Accepting Applications

On Saturday, October 15, the Watertown Free Public Library will host the second-annual Watertown Zine Fest. Zines are small-batch, DIY publications that provide a powerful platform of expression for underrepresented perspectives and voices. We believe they belong in the Library. Join us in celebrating and learning about all things zine!

Black and white photo of two people talking - crowded conference room in the background


Zine Marketplace


10 AM – 4 PM | Browse, barter, or buy wares by zinesters from near and far. This is a great place to meet fellow artists or learn what zines are all about. (Free and open to all.)

Black and white photo of people at tables working on a project


Zine-Making Hive


10 AM – 4 PM | The Zine Making Hive is a place where anyone can make their own zine! We give you the supplies and prompts to get you started. All ages. (Free and open to all.)

Black and white triptych of three people. Two headshots on the left and right, and a person standing


Zine Talks


10:30 AM – 4 PM | How do zines intersect with identity, activism, and community building? Unpack this and more with experienced zinesters! (Free, registration required.)

Button with the text, register for talks, links to ZIne Talks program descriptions
Button with the text Join the Email List links to email list sign-up page
Button with the text Whats a zine links to explanation of zines
Button with the text How do I get there links to driving and public transit directions
Banner with thet text, Zine Talks, set over a background of black and white staplers and scissors
Split profile image of a person with a blank expression, one half illustrated one half photographic.

Zines in the Classroom with Randall Trang

Saturday, 10/15 | 10:30 – 11:30 AM | Mastrangelo Room | High school art educator and professional comics artist Randall Trang discusses how he uses zines to teach students about self-expression and Doing It Yourself. Will include a mini-workshop and demonstration so bring your pencils/pens and papers! 

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Hand-drawn logo showing a rainbow and the text, the take-a-zine leave-a-zine project.

How Can I Help? The Intersection of Zines & Mutual Aid with Evan Bright and Megan Ramette

Saturday, 10/15 | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Mastrangelo Room | What is mutual aid and how can zinesters plug in to this form of community care? Join a conversation with Evan Bright of the Take-a-Zine, Leave-a-Zine Project and Megan Ramette of Allston/Brighton’s community fridge initiative. The Take-a-Zine, Leave-a-Zine Project plants community-run book stands in Massachusetts to foster the trade of zines, art books, and printed matter.

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Photo of a person with long pink hair and a brown jacket standing in front of a yellow background.

Making Stories Visible: A Closer Look Into Public Art and Storytelling with Crystal Bi Wegner

Saturday, 10/15 | 2 – 3 PM | Mastrangelo Room | Interested in public art and storytelling? Join Crystal Bi Wegner, a multimedia and public artist, for a conversation about the ways stories appear in public space. Participants will be invited to create their own zine together and imagine their stories transforming and taking new forms in public space.

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Photo of a person with glasses looking at the camera against a wood panel background.

We're Out Here: Marginalized Identities, Religion/Spirituality, and Zines with Ezra Rose

Saturday, 10/15 | 3 – 4 PM | Mastrangelo Room & via Zoom | Join a discussion with Ezra Rose on finding & making alternative religious and/or spiritual community through zines, through the lens of the experiences of a queer, trans, disabled & non-traditional Jewish zinester. 

Button with the text, Register (zoom event), links to registration page. Opens in new windowButton with the text, Register (in person event), links to registration page. Opens in new window

Overlapping, colorful zines laid out on a table.

WFPL Circulating Zine Collection

WFPL debut a circulating zine collection in the fall of 2021. Patrons will be able to browse, borrow zines, and event submit their own work to the collection. Zines and DIY publishing provide a powerful outlet for underrepresented or marginalized voices and stories that challenge the cultural mainstream: Black, Indigenous & People of Color, young people, people with disabilities, and people with limited economic resources. We believe that these voices and stories belong in the Library.

Banner with the text We Want Your Zines

We Want Your Zines

We are very interested in receiving zines that have been made by people from Watertown. We are also interested in other zines that you would like donate to be considered for this new collection. Do you have a Zine to donate? Please email us at zines@watertown-ma.gov and a library staff person will contact you with the details.

Small paper zine with the title "Traveling while Trans"

What Is a Zine?

A zine is a self-published, non-commercial print-work that is typically produced in small, limited batches.  Zines are created and bound in many DIY ways, but traditionally editions are easily reproduced—often by crafting an original “master flat,” and then photocopying, folding, and stapling the pages into simple pamphlets.  Zines may also be sewn, taped, glued—or even exist in unbound and other non-folio formats.  The main rule is that there are no rules!

Red square with the text, "Stolen Sharpie Revolution"

Books About Zines and Zine Culture at WFPL

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Jonesy by Sam Humphries & Caitlin Rose Boyle

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlorthe

Whatcha mean, what’s a zine?: The Art of Making Zines and Minicomics by Mark Todd and Esther Peal Watson

Stolen Sharpie Revolution: a DIY Resource for Zines and Zine Culture by Alex Wrekk

Notes from the Undeground: Zines and the Politics of Alternative Culture by Stephen Duncombe

Make a Zine!: Start Your Own Underground Publishing Revolution by Joe Biel

Photo of a book shelf full of zines and hand-lettered subject labels.

Local Zine Libraries 

Papercut Zine Library* (virtual collection) *Currently closed due to covid

Dorchester Art Project Zine Library* (digital archive) *Currently closed due to covid

Somerville Public Library

Lesley University Library Zine Collection

Harvard Schlesinger Library Zine Collection