I got news via Facebook and an email message that the Denver Zine Library will soon close for some period of time beginning next month.
It is with mixed emotions that we are announcing the temporary closure of the Denver Zine Library (DZL) which has been housed at The Other Side Arts on Platte St. for the past few years. There are several factors contributing to this temporary closure that we’d like to share with you. We have often found ourselves struggling to meet the demands of rent expenses, making us recognize that we cannot sustainably maintain our current location. Our core group of board members have also been taking on the role of volunteers, consistently sharing the responsibility of staffing the DZL every weekend so that it can remain open. Unfortunately, we have seen very few visitors, and while we know there is community interest in having a zine library in Denver, we want to make sure those same community members are invested in both visiting/utilizing the DZL as well as telling others about this incredible resource.
While the ever upbeat Kelly Shortandqueer remains true to his nature, "thanks for all of your thoughts and support for the zine library. we're all excited about taking time to be really intentional about how/where to reopen to make sure things are sustainable. so, while it's a little sad to be making a shift like this, i think we're going to be re-energized in ways that will be really good in the long run." (--Facebook comment) It is hard not to be sad, and even a little nervous, about the temporary closure.
I am sad to see it go, even temporarily because basically the Denver Zine Library rocks. If I'd been the one choosing zine libraries to represent the US at that International Zine Libraries conference, DZL would have topped my list of volunteer libraries to include. I love that they circulate zines, but require you to come in three times before you can get a borrowing card. I love that they specialize in transgender zines. I love that they use cereal boxes to house their zines. I know there are other core members, volunteers, and of course co-founder Jamez Terry, but one of the things I love most about the Denver Zine Library (which I've never actually been to incidentally) is the spirit, creativity, and intelligence of co-founder Kelly Shortandqueer.
I'm also bummed on behalf of the people who have donated zines to the collection. If anything happened to the collection at Barnard, I would feel like I had betrayed the people who had trusted me with their zines. Of course as an archival collection in an academic library, people have different expectations about what will happen to their zines at Barnard than about the longevity of their donation in volunteer run space, but it's still a drag, as I'm sure that Denver has some titles that are unique among zine library holdings.
Not knowing the backstory on why it's closing, I'm disappointed to see the potential dissolution of an important project that people put 5 years and I don't know how much money and other resources into. It's so hard to keep these things going. Most decent activists have too many projects going to dedicate all the time they want to to all of the projects they want to. And most not decent activists flake out for one reason or another, even if they have the time.
How do we better engage people? Or is that just how it goes? People have their own interests and priorities and aren't necessarily going to join a project with the same dedication and enthusiasm as its founders have. But is there a way to share a project, give new people some ownership without losing the project's central mission and more valuable historical components? Again—I’m not saying that's what happened here, just musing about what would occur if I left the Barnard Library zine collection or Radical Reference. I think the latter has some excellent champions, but I'm afraid if I left Barnard, the institution would let the zines languish, like happened at Pratt or that the collection would be deliberately dismantled like at Baltimore County. It seems to me that the DZL has at least a core community, so that their problem isn't lack of buy in from stakeholders, as they say. Well, not exactly...I'm guessing that keeping the library open has become more of a strain and a burden on that small group to keep it going right now, even if just financially, especially since usage hasn't been substantial.
All right, enough speculation and musing. Here is the rest of Kelly's post about the closing:
Though we are sad to be making this decision, we are hopeful and excited about the future of the DZL. We will be packing up and storing, with love and care, the entire library that has been diligently collected and cataloged all these years and when we find a new, more sustainable space, we will be re-opening. We do not know at this point when or where that will be, but we want you to know that the DZL is not going away. We are committed to being an available resource for our community once again, if you want us to be.
Which brings us to perhaps the most important part of this notice. We are reaching out to you, the community, in this time of transition. If you know of any good spaces or space-sharing options for us, by all means let us know! Any takers for helping us pack up? We are planning on packing and moving during the month of July and are in need of boxes. Also if you have any interest in being a part the re-visioning process, have ideas for the DZL or would like to volunteer once we are up and running again we would LOVE to hear from you especially. The more the better! The most important part of any organization thriving and not just surviving is the support of the people in the community.
Please contact Josiah or Brandi to get connected and be a part of this process.
If you love zine culture, community, and history and you want to have this important part of DIY culture as a part of your city, support us in whatever way you can! Talk to others and spread the word about what’s happening with the DZL. Share ideas with us on what would make the DZL more accessible. We’re excited about the future of the DZL, but we can’t do it without your help, interest and involvement.
We’re planning on having one last Shindig/Fundraiser at the space itself to have some closure and celebrate all the great stuff that has happened at TOSA with the DZL over the years. We’ll keep you posted with forthcoming information on that.
Thanks for all of your love over the past five years,
The Denver Zine Librarians
Come back soon!
PS Colorado College photographs used with permission.