Wilmette Public Library

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Make a National Library Week Zine

Byline

Eti Berland, School Engagement Librarian, Wilmette (Ill.) Public Library

Zines are independently made, creative works that encourage self-expression, making them the perfect medium for people to share their own stories. 

Inspired by the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table's Community Zine Project, have patrons create an original zine or mini-comic sharing their library story and why they love their local library. Zines from this project can be used as mentor texts to inspire their own creativity. 

You could even include the prompt, "How were you drawn to the library?" to coincide with this year's National Library Week (April 6 - 12, 2025) theme.

Advanced Planning

Patrons will share their own library stories by making zines or mini-comics. This program can be done as a drop-in passive activity or a planned part of scheduled programming. 

Marketing

Zine-making will be part of our "Cartoonist Club" release party during National Library Week. Our event is included in our library's newsletter. Flyers are posted on our bulletin board, as well as letting previous attendees of other comics fandom programs know about this program.

As a passive program, putting out zines (and zine templates) with a sign encouraging people to tell their library story is a low-pressure activity that people can discover in the library without much pressure to market it. We do a lot of passive programming at my library — from voting booths to interactive bulletin boards — that engage our large crowds of patrons.

Budgeting

Around $20 for paper and craft supplies. Fortunately, you don't need a lot of expensive supplies to make zines.

Day-of-event Activity

Staff can make their zines using printer paper, pencils, pens, old magazines and other low-cost craft supplies. A basic craft set-up is needed. Depending on the patrons' ages, you can pre-fold the zine ahead of time to prepare it for quicker use. 

Program Execution

The Community Zine Project Digital Archive has instructions on how to make a zine at the bottom of the page.

Advice

Making zines about their library stories is a low-cost, high-impact activity that can engage patrons in deep conversations about book access, literacy and lifelong learning. 

Supporting Materials

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