July is International Zine Month

21 July is International Zine Library Day!

ABOUT IZM

During conversations with friends I found myself saying “Wouldn’t it be rad if there was an International Zine Month?” Which led to the question: “How do we make it official?” This was actually a silly question since zines are inherently DIY there was no one who could make it official, but I could Do It Myself. I decided to propose the idea on the We Mazine Zines forum and people seemed really excited about it. I figured to pair it with the 24 hour Zine thing would be a good idea and since that takes place in the month of July…. JULY IS INTERNATIONAL ZINE MONTH!

In the month of July I’d love for you to celebrate zines and independent publishing with people all over the world. This is not a spectator sport! I’m asking your to get involved!

Here are just some idea please send me more if you have them:

Set up a zine reading, a zine swap, a cut and paste party, a zine fest, or even a simple zine workshop at your local library or community center. Write a letter to every zine you read, leave your zine at random places around town like buses, bathrooms or universities. Order zines directly from the creator, make a shirt with iron on letters that says “ask me about zines”, make buttons with phrases like “zines saved my life” or “do you read zines?”. Send out zine fliers with your mail or leave them around your town. Approach shops in your town about carrying zines, donate to zine libraries…..

This website is a place for people to submit information about local zine happenings and I’ll post them in the zine events.

21 July is International Zine Library Day – Zine Library Day is an opportunity to celebrate collections of zines around the world. Use it to find an existing zine library, or as an excuse to start a new one in your community.

Play along at home with Events and  31 Activities for 31 Days of International Zine Month!

1 – If you have an account on We Make Zines (A social networking site just for zines)  login to talk about International Zine Month. if you don’t have an account yet, start one!

I love zines week
2 – Zine Distro appreciation day.  Order something from a zine distro, or write them a letter or an e-mail telling them you appreciate what they do.
3 – Organize your zine collection. We all know you have stacks of zines by your bed, maybe you should look into doing something about that.
4 – Teach yourself a new skill: how to make a one page zine, a new binding technique, photocopier art, etc.
5 – Check out a different type of zine than you normally read. Why stay stuck in the same box, try something new. It might just surprise you!
6 – Re-read your favorite zines! We all have our favorites, why not sit down and read them again.

7 – Zine reading day! Host, attend, or participate in a zine reading. No zine readings around you? Read outloud to your pet!

Event: SLC Alt Press Fest- (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
8 – Try something new day.  If you draw comics, try writing a personal story.  If you write fiction, try non-fiction.  If you write poetry, try drawing comics.

Postal appreciation week!
9 – Buy some stamps, envelopes or postcards or make your own (envelopes and postcards, that is, not stamps.)
10 – Write a letter to a zine person that you have never written before to let them know you liked what they made.
11 – Create a care package to send to a zine friend filled with neat zine stuff (rub on letters, glue sticks, clip art, etc)
12 – make some mail art, decorate some envelopes, or make an Artist Trading Card.
13 – Send your zine out to be reviewed.

14-  ValenZine’s Day Write your zine crush (we know you have one!), or write to Zine Crush about your zine crush.

Event:  Bandung Zine Fest – (Bandung, Indonesia)
15 – make plans to make a split zine with someone.

Zine Library and Education week
16 – Leave a zine in a public place: tacked to a message board, on a bus, in a coffee shop
17 – Teach a friend or family member about zines.
18 – Send your zine to a zine library.
19 – make a zine flyer to send out with your orders and to trade with other zines.
20 – Host a zine workshop or zine party at a local library or community center.

21 – International Zine Library Day! Visit your local zine library! Start a zine library.

Event:  July is International Zine Library Day – Zine Library Day is an opportunity to celebrate collections of zines around the world. Use it to find an existing zine library, or as an excuse to start a new one in your community.

Event: Pete’s Mini Zine Fest (Brooklyn, New York, USA)
22 – Check out Zine Wiki! Add your zine or edit an entry.
Zine Distribution week
23 – Zine Trade Day! ask someone if they would like to trade zines with you.
24 –  Send your zine to a distro for consideration.
25 – Order from a different zine distro than your normally do.
26 – Review a zine in your zine, on your blog, or on your facebook page
27 – Look into consigning your zine at a shop that sells zines.

EVENTS: Salon Series: Zines (Somerville, Massachusetts, USA)

EVENT: Bad Zine Everybody’s Fault: Zine Reading (Washington, DC, USA)

EVENT: Zine Librarian (un)Conference (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)

28 – Free Zine Day! Give the unexpected gift of a zine!

EVENT: D.C. Zine Fest – (Washington, DC, USA)
29 – organize a zine event, even if it is a small one

30 – Zine shop appreciation day.  Support your local zine friendly shop today!
31- Take a photo of you with your zine (extra credit if you post it online)

Extra Credit!
-Read a zine everyday
-take part in the 24 hour zine thing
-draw a comic everyday and release a diary comic at the end!

A lot of these activities can be fond on this risograph printed poster that I made. You can also find a PDF of it here if you would like to print some for yourself. Posters are also free with all orders from Portland Button Works and Zine Distro.