This first batch has six. Please feel free to add your own things too—I'm interested in seeing what everyone else is referencing/reading/producing!
The Library Was
OOMK, Book Works, 2016
— Contributors: Sofia Niazi, Rose Nordin, Rianna Jade Parker, Leila Kassir, Hudda Khaireh, Heiba Lamara, and Fehras Publishing Practices
ISBN 978-1-906012-76-2
150×240mm (var. page size) 44 pp. paperback (b/w on var. stock + staple bound)
- Paperback $15.95–23.95 (sliding scale)
- WorldCat entry (for library access)
A beautiful zine that was an enjoyable and thoughtful read, especially with the different forms included. Mode switching from prose to poetry to history to future. It also does a really successful job of blending and blurring the line between fact and fiction in the collection, which opens up the reader to consider their own relationship with libraries, and their role as librarian.
Publishing in the Realm of Plant Fibers and Electrons
Temporary Services (Brett Bloom & Marc Fischer), Half Letter Press, 2014
— with illustrations by Kione Kochi
— and contributions from Kristian Johansson and Leah Mackin
5.5×8.5” 32 pp. paperback (risograph 3 color + french flap + staple bound)
- Booklet $7.00 (out of stock)
- ePub $2.00
- PDF-5 $2.00
- 72dpi PDF ~free~
- WorldCat entry (for library access)
There is a lot of discussion of the printed booklet vs. digital publishing and when each makes sense with regards to production cost, access (also championing the free publication), and environmentalism. A section of the text titled the “Social Space of Print,” discusses the role and value of the physical block of printed matter, the space it occupies, and its potential in education and social experience
This zine provides useful insights into the history of Half Letter Press and Temporary Services too. They talk about how they got into publishing, its relationship to events and happenings, their earliest publications, and the transition points and process shifts that have lead to their current publishing model. For many publications they outline the process of developing those titles, distributing them, and how readership grew and shifted with time. They also include in full a number of demands, principles, and questions which have been collaboratively developed to guide their practice. They end with a survey of the artist publisher ecosystem.
I’ve dog-eared many of these pages for future reference, and marked some of the manifesto paragraphs too, as reminders for myself while I’m figuring out this whole publishing beast.
How to Art Book Fair
Paul Shortt, Paul Shortt & Friends, 2018
5.5×8.5" 14 pp. paperback (risograph 1 var. color on var. stock + staple bound)
- Booklet $10.00
- WorldCat entry (for library access)
I found this on these forums actually. Unfortunately I can't provide a lot of insight on the advice within, having not yet ever tabled—but I can say that after reading it, I feel like tabling as a prospect is accessible, no longer a big unknown. It's also vibrantly printed, a pleasure to hold and thumb through, and a humorous, quick read. Last note, Paul set this up as a dynamic publication, and invited others to contribute their advice and perspectives on how to book fair—so I'm excited to see what future printings hold.