Covert Zine Trading & Lending Library Index,
local to the territories of the
Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples
(Songhees and Esquimalt Nations)
known colonially as Victoria, BC

Welcome to the Decentralized Zine Library Project's Covert Zine Trading & Lending Library Index. Here you will find information about the locations of known zine libraries local to the territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples (Songhees and Esquimalt Nations) known colonially as Victoria, BC.

Currently, there is one known location for browsing, lending and borrowing.

If you have information that could lead to the discovery of other locations, please contact: decentzinelib@gmail.com with the subject line: NEW LOCATION.

735 Broughton Street

This zine library is located inside a hollowed out book. It was discovered in the stacks of the Greater Victoria Public Library, Central Branch.

Hint: seek out call Number: 971.1004 REA

What is a zine?

There may be as many definitions as there are zines. Broadly, zines are books that are made by hand. They are bound in a variety of ways and often reproduced through conventional photocopying. Zines are part of DIY culture, which is to say authors of zines will copy, bind and distribute their own work.

Someone might find a zine made by somebody else and help it along by creating more copies and sharing it. The content of a zine is up to the author, but a typical zine helps to subvert corporate publishing standards and practices by decentralizing artistic and literary expression through low-fi self-publishing.

What is decentralization?

Decentralization is the distribution of function and power away from a single influence of authority. Participation in decentralized distribution networks (like the DZLP) is often anonymous and non-hierarchical.

Non-hierarchical?

One goal of decentralization is to challenge our social dependency on hierarchies. Unchallenged class, race, gender and other hierarchies result in barriers in publishing and literary distribution. The dissolution of hierarchies in zine distribution is about accessibility. It's part of anti-oppression work at the community level.

Who are you?

I'm the custodian of the index and a maker of zines.

How do I get in touch?

For general inquiries, please email decentzinelib@gmail.com with the subject line: INQUIRY.

As mentioned above, if you have "found" a discrete zine repository and would like to submit it to the index for listing, please use the subject line: NEW LOCATION.

For comments or concerns relating to accessibility or anything else, please use the subject line: COMMENT.

Thank you for your assistance and your interest. In love and solidarity,

Psalmanazar Frond