small neighbourhood library: zines to share

an amount of small neighbourhood libraries has unexpectedly appeared in my life. ive been inrtigued by little libraries as a cool project to share things in theory, but the reality is more complicated: more people dump things they don't want, less people add exciting things. i've decided to "positively contribute to my community" or whatever with one-page zines. one-page zines are portable, cheap to print, and can be as exciting as you can imagine on absolutely any topic. my particular consideration was also being kid-friendly and kid-exciting, as the little library under my wrath is next to some playgrounds.

below is the collection of zines that i found and curated to be: one-pagers, have an option of being accessed for free, can be printed, are reasonably kid-friendly, and interesting to community beyond kids also. there is also a section below on zines of different formats than one-pagers and/or on topics that might be a bit trickier to explain to a kid, but i still would consider them for your (or even mine, in time) library.

a giant thank you to all the folks who've made the zines and resources displayed on this page. you rock. if you can, please donate or buy from these creatives and other maker folks in your life.

the zines i've printed:

• the small science library 🌱 🧪

• The Incredible Cephalopod by Kate Hall

• Trilobites by anon

• Ants by Andrew Yang

• Insect Mimicry by Marisa Klug

• Name & Know Your Insects by Sae Kim

• So You've Decided to Evolve by Nick Jones

• The Brief History of Manned Space Stations by Godai

• DNA Computing Zine by Lale Westvind

• Black Holes by Dylan Rabe

• Learn About the Nitrogen Cycle by Kara Hall

• Ocean Acidification by Beth Archie

• Language Zine by Hannah Israelsohn

• Peanut Sniffing Dogs by Gianina Fleming

• How Does Honey End Up in Jars? by C. Kazarov

• What is a Macronutrient? by George Aivaliotis

• The Indomidable Water Bear by Alex Chitty

• Red Specks, Black Dots by Tim Lu

• Moths: Monsters or More?? by Loren Rozewski

• Gut Feeling by Andrew Yang

• Cryptids of the World by Godai

• Protein Structure by Josh Kurutz

• sherwood forest zine library

• Acids by Rishabh Tripathi 🧪

• How to Be Actively Anti-Racist by Harriet X 👥

• to Make a One-Page Zine by Sarah Mirk + Spanish version 🎨

• Is Racism Really Still a Thing? by unknown 👥

• zc mag

• 37 Zine Ideas from the Zine Idea Generator by The ZIG 🎨

• How to Draw the “Eve Harms Way“ 🎨

• Palestinian Artists in History & Today by Gliese Art Collective

• How to make a bird on a perch by Emma Carlow 🎨

• Origami Envelopes Zine by Notes for Learning 🎨

• Hobbies: How-to Cross Stitch by QueerStarryEyed 🎨

• Essential Supplies for Embroidery by hopebroidery 🎨

• Let's make a zine! by Dr Jess Eggy 🎨

• Bitsy: a micro guide for making micro games by andimlenny 💾

• Introduction to Machine Learning by Jen Looper 💾

• Build a Computer by Jo Brodie 💾

• Pocket Therapy by Take Your Time and Tea 🧠

• Storybuilding by Sarah Maloney 🎨

• SIFT zine by InfoLit Idaho [Misinformation detection]

• Fix A Flat Zine by Sam Scipio and Ayesha McGowan [Bike] 🎨

• Crow Parenting: Communal Families of the American Crow by Sarah Mirk 🌱

• to love a wasp by bugthebard 🌱

• MATH ZINE FEST 2021 zines by Public Math 🧪

• What is antibiotic resistance? by Angela Gao 🧪

• Cabbages and their cousins: the dogs of the plant world by Merritt Khaipho-Burch 🧪

• Abolitionist Bystander Intervention & De-escalation: A Pocket Zine For Youth by JJ Skolnik 👥

• Project Management by Duke University Library 🎨

• Two-Spirit People at a Glance by New Horizons for 2S-LGBTQ+ Older Adults 🌈

• FIVE GREAT PRESCHOOL STORYTIME BOOKS BY AUTHORS OF COLOR by Channing Kennedy 🎲

• How to Fika by Johanna Kindvall and Anna Brones 🎲

• HISTORY OF QUANTUM COMPUTING by EPiQC 🧪

things i'm considering printing next:

• literally anything by the small science library 🧪

• Quarantine Activity Zine by TPI Solutions Ink 🎲

• Food Fun by Denise Smith 🎲

• Tiny Colouring Zine: Have Your Cake by zinthings 🎲️

• Family Zine by Sarah Taylor Silverwood 🎲

• Coping Skills for School: A Zine by Resourceful Me Art Therapy 🧠

• Make Your Own Natural Inks by Betty Carpick 🎨

• All Day Breakfast: Sourdough by Jess Driscoll 🥪

• The Caramel is Salted with my Tears: A Vegan Baking Zine by (No) Money in the Bank 🥪

• ZINES: A Mini How-to-Guide by Melanie Yugo 🎨

• Zine-mini Buch by Atelier KLKS [Mini-zine instructions in German] 🎨

• Comment faire un zine ? by Luchie [Mini-Zine instructions in French] 🎨

• Expose your Photographs by Caro Appleby 🎨

• Google Sheets Mini Zine by AngelSprouting 💾

• Google-fu guru by Ruth Evans 💾

• Geek Out Zine: Learning MS Excel! by Goofy Geek Entertainment 💾

• Android Testing Primer by Chiu-Ki Chan 💾

• My Unapologetic Emotional Awareness Guide by Bria Royal 🧠

• 7 Days of Self-Care by Healthy Minds 🧠

• Glimmers Pocket Guide by Elena Mamatas 🧠

• Today & Tomorrow Too: A Pocket Zine for Your Worst Days by Baby Blue Press 🧠

• A gratitude zine by Austin Kleon 🧠

• Writing Tips by R.A. Spratt 🎨

• Writer's Plan Zine by Gia 🎨

• Watkinson's Little Guide to Worldbuilding by Largshire Press 🎨

• Using Cams in your Paper Animations by Rob Ives 🎨

• Fabric Speaker Zine by Liza Stark 🎨

• DIY drum by flaming hot cheeto 🎨

• Shield of the North by shortsplit [Dinosaurs] 🌱

• Trees and Me by Nature Explorers 🌱

• Your Quick Start Guide to Nature Journaling by Wild Wonder Foundation 🌱 + Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Italian versions

• Feeling and Soils by Doyung Lee and Avery Normandin 🌱

• zines by Juliette Patissier [Plant zines in French] 🌱

• Patterns from Bourgoin by Stewart C. Russell [Art, math, and colouring] 🧪

• My Unapologetic Interpersonal Conflict Guide by Bria Royal 🧠

• What You Can Do For Palestine and Gaza by Black Zine Archive 👥

• What Kind of Print is That? by Katie Garth 🎨

• The Happiness Trap by Nicki Case 🧠

• Craftivism Zine by Badass Cross Stitch 🎨

• Grieving Overdose by the DOPE Project and Gaia Wxyz 🧠

• using non-binary pronouns 101 by ky magdalene 🌈

• Pronouns 101 by fen slattery 🌈

• Pronoun Primer! Familiarize Yourself with New Pronouns: Etiquette & A Basic List by Clorinspats 🌈

• LGBTQIA+ Pocket Dictionary by illuminesce 🌈

• Stonewall Riots by afternoon_comet 🌈

• The universe of my identity by Kids Help Phone, Markus Harwood-Jones and Myriad Augustine 🌈

• A Coronavirus Preparedness zine by Kat Jagai 👥

• Be More Caring: Kindness Journal by Kelly Castor 🎲

• Danish Pastry recipe zine by Suzanne de Nies 🥪

• Five Art Tips by Sam Spina 🎨

• A Tiny Guide for HOW White People Can Show Up for Racial Justice at Marches + Protests with BIPOC by Jessica Gath 👥

• Resources for Emerging Poets and Anyone Interested in Spoken Word by Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre 🎨

• Creative Commons Explainer by Chibi Press

• Ekphrastic: Writing About Art by Erin Dorney 🎨

• The Humble Dandelion by FRESH New London 🌱

• Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey 🎲

• Simply Ballroom by Owen B. 🎨

• All About Us - Cultural Heritage Zine by Alanna Stapleton 🎲

• Dad Joke Zine by Mar Hicks 🎲

• Silly Riddles for You by Tabatha Yeatts 🎲

• Grounding: Some Ideas & Some More Ideas by Anti-Violence Project 🧠

• How to Find a Bra that Fits by Sylvie Douglis and LA Johnson

• Mushrooms whittling zine by Richard Irvine [archived copy] 🎨

• How to design products by Hannu Havusto 🎨

• Welcome to the Indie Web by Manatee 💾

things that don't fit, either for topics or dimensions or else, but are great candidates:

• save seed zine by true radicle [seed-saving] 🌱

• birds, bees + beyond by artistic apothecary [pollinators] 🌱

• Tending The Soil–Lessons For Organizing by Ricardo Levins Morales 👥

• So you want to be a wizard by Julia Evans 💾

• The Past Didn't Go Anywhere by April Rosenblum [antisemitism, activism] 👥

• Sustainable Menstrual Products by Pleasure Pie

• Dungeon Crawl Basics by Reverend Dak J. Ultimak 🎲

• Learning Good Consent 🧠

• Colonization & Decolonization: A Manual for Indigenous Liberation in the 21st Century 👥

• SUICIDE INTERVENTION (FOR WEIRDOS, FREAKS, AND QUEERS) by carly boyce 🧠

• Harm Reduction Healing Grief Zine 🧠

• Ten Stages of Genocide by Emberin Tayson 👥

• ALL WE HAVE IS EACH OTHER - A GUIDE TO CREATING FABRIC MASKS by Yessi and N 🎨

• A Popular Guide to Building a Community Broadcast Station by T.J. Enrile 🎨

• Mediation / Supported Conversation Guide by Neighbourhood Anarchist Collective 👥

• Reimagining connection through using CONSENT by Carey French 🧠

• White Priviledge: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh 👥

• You Should Be Questioning by Twenty Two Zines and Wesley Sueker [gender] 🌈

• Getting Started Playing Kalimba by Dice Problems 🎨

• CTRRRL-ZINE by carol dinh 💾

• Taking The Cake: An Illustrated Primer on Asexuality by Maisha 🌈

• Whole Thai - Tom Kha Recipe Booklet by onaperd 🥪

• How to Give Yourself a Testosterone Injection by Ray Bernoff 🌈

• Smashing Cis-heteropatriarchy is ceremony: A Basic Guide to Starting an Indigenous Men’s, Transmasc, & Two-Spirit Talking & Action Circle by Indigenous Actions 👥

• Really Friendly Git Intro by Tracy Osborn 💾

• Asynchronous Programming in Rust by Iryna Shestak 💾

• Dvorak Zine by Alec Longstreth, Gabe Carleton-Barnes and Michael Cardiff [Keyboard] 💾

• Preserve This Podcast 💾

• Centering Love in Finance by Ari Sahagún and Kate Poole 👥

• ANTI-OPPRESSIVE MEETING FACILITATION by anti-oppression resource and training alliance 👥

• Tenant Organizing by Brooklyn Eviction Defense 👥

• The Troubles of “Invasive” Plants by Macska Moksha Press 🌱

• Key Concepts of Message Perception + Futurism & Languages of Manipulation by CYBORG MEMOIRS 🧪

• Perfect Flowers: a queer botany zine by Interlocking Roots 🌱

• How Did We Get Here?: A Zine About Privacy in the Library by Data Privacy Project 🧪

• Up Rye Zine: notes for bakers by Raven Bakery 🥪

• Asking For Emotional Support by haley brown 🧠

• What do Veg*ns eat? by Kira Commoner 🌱

• Algorithmic Ecology by Free Radicals 🧪

• Why do we need a union? by DSA SF 👥

• Narcan 101 zine by Out of Harm's Reach 👥

• AN ARTISTS' GUIDE TO NOT BEING COMPLICIT WITH COVID-19 IN THE HUDSON VALLEY by Celebrate 845 👥

• 12 Principles of Animation by Corey Francsico 🎨

• Juneteenth Zine by Hayley Powers Studio 👥

• Lou Sullivan: Trans Gay You Should Know by Alex L Combs 🌈

• Navigating Crisis by the Icarus Project 🧠

• Beyond Don’t Work for Free by Christina Tran 👥

• Deafblind People in History by Violet B. Fox

• Draw with code! An intro to turtle graphics using Python by Iffy Books 💾

• What's Up With COVID and How to Protect Yourself: 2024 Edition by Hazel Newlevant + Spanish version 👥

zines that need extra formatting before printing

• some zines don't have a printer-friendly version, but they would still be very neat to have. things like Bookletify can help turn pdfs into booklets for you.

• Police Abolition 101: Messages When Facing Doubts by Noah Jodice 👥

• Molecular Tales of Marine Dissolved Organic Matter by Evelyn Pae and Sasha Wagner 🧪

• Fruit For Free - A Foraging Zine by Mel Gillman 🌱

• One Punk’s Guide to Digital Sex Work by Lorde Destroyer 👥

• The Essential Dollar Store Art Supply Guide by Rosemary Travale 🎨

• Memories of Science: an experimental zine by Raymond Nakamura and Katrina Vera Wong 🧪

• an aromantic manifesto by yingchen and yingtong 🌈

• Personal Finance for Smart People: A Pocket Guide for Wealthier Life by Vishal Khandelwal

• Solving the Housing Crisis by Natasha Joseph 👥

• Someone I Love Is Self Harming And I Don't Know What To Do by Khale MCHurst 🧠

• Reclaiming Calm by dweebdraws 🧠

• Properties of Ink by Angela Boyle 🎨

• Chronically Badass: A Guide For The Young & Chronically Ill by Diane Murray

• How to Grow Fruit Trees from What You Eat! by playerprophet 🌱

• What's my function? by Jessica Garson [Coding] 💾

• Miniature Worlds by Nellie Cole 🌱

• Bacteria Farming Zine by Nicholas C. Kawa 🧪

• Zika Zine by NASA and the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program 🧪

storage and shelving

• i just. put all of the copies straight into the box as is, which created several problems: hard to display things in an inviting manner, hard to keep things organized, paper does get wet when its rainy outside. counterpoint: this still seems to work, even if imperfect.

• popular options seem to be: milk cartons, cereal cartons, binders, boxes, cardboard pallets, etc.

• shelving options by the zine librarians interest group

• storage box template for 8-page mini zine collection by Carolyn Swiszcz

• Make a Zine Display/Rack by dretime

last updated: 27/04/2024