Library lover and illustrator Laura Baker is being given the chance to combine her passions as part of a call for community contributions to a dedicated "zine" zone at Newcastle Libraries.
The 20-year-old TAFE student, who is completing a diploma of Library and Information Services, is among the first local zine-makers to have their work included within the new collection, which will be officially launched at the City branch next month.
City of Newcastle Innovative Collection Developer Emma Callaghan sits alongside James Turvey and Laura Baker with their zines to be featured in the new collection at Newcastle City Library.
Zines are a type of small, self-published booklet or magazine often used as an outlet for personal expression, art, ideas or written stories, with no limitations on creativity or subject matter.
City of Newcastle's Director Museum Archive Libraries and Learning, Julie Baird, said the new collection reinforces Newcastle Libraries' role as a hub for self-expression and a custodian of cultural history.
"Zines have played a vital role in Newcastle's youth, art, music and skate scenes for over 40 years, offering a uniquely liberating platform for creatives to express their ideas freely, outside the constraints of traditional publishing," Ms Baird said.
"This collection is a significant statement of time and history, preserving voices, images and stories of our community for future generations. We invite zine makers, both local and from afar, to contribute their work and take part in archiving a piece of Newcastle's cultural heritage."
Library worker and archivist James Turvey, who has been making zines since he was 14 and working in libraries for over a decade, is passionate about documenting and preserving local stories that might otherwise be lost.
The 42-year-old sees his contribution to the collection as his way of giving back to the community, showcasing the local skate scene while also making independent publishing more accessible.
"Zines are a snapshot of a moment in time, whether it's personal, political, or creative. They capture voices, ideas, and movements that don't always make it into mainstream history," Mr Turvey said.
"Making creative work from within the community accessible is really important and having this space at Newcastle City Library will expose people to zines that might not otherwise have come across them."
For emerging creators like Ms Baker, who started making zines two years ago, the collection offers a valuable opportunity to share their work and inspire others to explore the medium.
"What I love about zines is the variety, some have poems, illustrations, comics, collages, photography or short fiction, and others are just unique. You can really do anything, and that's what makes them so exciting," she said.
"It's a really accessible format and anyone can make them, all you need is a piece of paper and an idea.
"I want to keep telling stories, it's something I enjoy putting out into the world and I'm excited to share my work through this collection."
Creators interested in submitting their work to the collection can drop their donations at Newcastle City Library before Saturday, 5 April, when a special event will be held to officially launch of the zine collection.
The event will feature a mini zine market, a hands-on zine-making workshop and a panel discussion led by James Turvey. The discussion will feature acclaimed zine-makers Vanessa Berry, Nina Katzmarski, and Bastian Fox, who will chat about zine culture, collaboration, and community.
Visit the Newcastle Libraires website to find out more information about the zine collection.
