Creative Zinergy

Student-led Zine Workshops and Research in an Academic Library

Abstract

This zine discusses a collaborative research project with a student that provided a foundation for successful zine initiatives in an academic library. Though the team at Binghamton University Libraries was aware of zines and zine-making on campus, we had little success with zine workshops…until we worked with a student on a research project for the entirety of an academic term. Our student researcher participated in the Libraries’ Research Scholars program in spring of 2025 to (a) find research on zines in academic libraries and curricula and (b) plan, host, and assess zine workshops. This work led to an expansion of zine offerings in our libraries, including building a teaching collection, a zine supply cart, and hosting zine-making workshops for classes. We are at a launching point and hope to pursue further initiatives such as zine collecting, expanding the types of tools and materials available, and additional outreach to teaching faculty. Ultimately, our goal is for students to feel empowered to create and publish through non-traditional avenues and to challenge the idea that particular topics and voices don’t belong in academic discussion. This zine outlines the research project and its results, gives suggestions for others beginning zine-making initiatives in academic libraries, and provides additional information resources.