"Makers, readers and lovers of zines and other homebrew publishing pursuits will gather for a day to trade and sell their wares, as well as network with others in the zine community.
A "zine," loosely defined, is "an independently created publication containing anything you want it to" and pronounced like magazine without the "maga-", according to Alex Wrekk and Joe Biel's "Stolen Sharpie Revolution." (Something of an introductory guide to do-it-yourself printing and publishing.)
Zines are typically published via photocopier and can contain anything from original art and writing, to appropriated printed-source material, to a collage of both. They also, according to event organizers, can deal with any conceivable topic.
"It's really complicated," said Celina Williams, student research assistant at Cabell Library, which features a collection of zines from as far back as 1969. Williams also is one of many event organizers for the Richmond Zine Fest.
"It's something (the Library Special Collections) has grappled with," she said. "When people ask me, 'what's in a zine?', I have to ask, you know, 'what's in a book?' It can be about anything." More
In the News: Zine Fest article quotes special collections
From The Oct. 6 edition of the Commonwealth Times, reporting on the Oct. 8 Zinefest event.