This serves as my personal/professional blog. I write about zines and alternative press publications in libraries, cataloging, library activism, and cats. I also review books and zines and occasionally publicize events. Here are (talks I've given and an academic page. I founded the Barnard Zine Library and worked there until June 2026, so lots of my intellectual output is there. This is a short bio.
Interviews & Profiles
- Zines as resistance: Exploring the creative power of the Barnard Zine Library by Abigail Rabitt, Barnard Bulletin, 2025
- When Art Meets Activism: Jenna Freedman on Making Change, Speaking Out, and Zines by Claudia Gohn, Grassroots Magazine, 2024
- Flipping Through Barnard’s Zine Library by Isabelle Shi, Barnard Bulletin, 2024
- Cut-and-Paste: A Series of Interviews with Members of NYC’s Zine Community by Mimi C., Untold Uptown, 2023
- Zine librarian Jenna Freedman chats about the Barnard Zine library and why every grrrl's story is important by Tiffany Babb, Popverse, 2022
- Can a blog be a zine? (w/ Jenna Freedman) by Lucas Gelfond, Zine Munch, 2022
- Interview With Zine Maker - Jenna Freedman by Angi Brzycki, LA Public Library, 2022
- Quaranzines Will Keep Us Connected: An Interview with Jenna Freedman by Alenka Figa (I think), Women in Comics, 2020
- Interview with Jenna Freedman, Curator of the Barnard Zine Library, Librarian for WGSS & American Studies by Joscelyn Jurinich (I think), Barnard Center for Engaged Pedagogy, 2020
- What exactly is a zine?: Barnard Zine Librarian Jenna Freedman answers by Jasmine Sabadosa, Columbia Spectator, 2019
- How Zine Libraries Are Highlighting Marginalized Voices by Rosie Marx, Buzzfeed News, 2018.
- Zine Makers Grab Their MetroCards and Go to Work by Colin Moynihan, New York Times, 2014.
- Totally rad: an interview with Jenna Freedman, activist librarian by Brigit Katz, Bibliopaths, 2014
- The Archival Turn in Feminism: Outrage in Order by Kate Eichhorn, Temple University Press, 2013. Chapter 4.
- Zines (podcast episode) by Michelle Chen, Barnard Center for Research on Women, 2013
- Life in the Trenches of Print and Web Publishing: An Interview with Jenna Freedman, Curator of the Barnard Zine Collection by Jessamyn West, Serials Librarian, 2013
- This Book Is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson, Harper, 2010. Chapter 7.
- Jenna Freedman Named Futas Winner, American Library Association, 2007
- Zines in the Library Catalogue? Of Course by Lily Koppel, New York Times, 2007.
- Truth to Power by John Berry, Library Journal, 2003
The image I'm using as my logo is from Suzuki Beane by Sandra Scoppettone, illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh. My primary personal/personal outlet is my zine, Lower East Side Librarian. I live in a neighborhood called Alphabet City on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in NYC.
If you want to contact me, my work email address is jenna.freedman@qc.cuny.edu.