Organizing Anarchy: The Forgotten Zine Archive

Hamel, Leigh Ann; Maher, Tom; O'Dwyer, Mick; Cook, Eric

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47389 Copy

Description

Title

Organizing Anarchy: The Forgotten Zine Archive

Author(s)

• Hamel, Leigh Ann
• Maher, Tom
• O'Dwyer, Mick
• Cook, Eric

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• non-standard information settings
• sub-culture collections
• DIY archives
• zines

Abstract

Specialist information archives, particularly in subcultural and non-institutional settings, present special considerations of local context, cultural appropriateness and use patterns. In this poster, we describe our work developing a system of classification, cataloging, and preservation measures in the context of Seomra Spraoi's Forgotten Zine Archive, a Dublin, Ireland-based collection of underrepresented and ephemeral cultural materials. The goal of organizing and preserving these materials was achieved without compromising the noncommercial, do-it-yourself ethos of the materials and organization. Our actions contributed structure and method to a previously undervalued information domain, which may become important in the future as the cultural resonance of alternative media and zines in particular becomes more widely acknowledged. To develop these systems, keys aspects of the Forgotten Zine Archive were examine via a detailed user needs assessment questionnaire and approximately 3? months of weekly participant observation sessions. The survey and observational data, viewed through lenses of existing theory and archival practices, were used to ground any practical decisions made. The collection of over 1800 zines was then classified and cataloged based on this knowledge. Issues of preservation and digitization were also extensively considered. Once our field work was done at Seomra, we developed a set of more generalizable considerations, contributing to existing best practices in the domain of subcultural archiving. Through working with the Forgotten Zine Archive, we generated a set of conclusions and best practice suggestions, with potential benefit to any group, academic or otherwise, that wishes to undertake the maintenance of a similarly ephemeral collection. Catering the cataloging process to the audience and setting is vital when dealing with alternate media, and one effective way to approach this task has been established through this project.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47389

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14350

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Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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