Readers > Zines > Zine Collection > Zine Donations
Zine Exchange
Informal trading among zine creators and readers has been around as long as zines have been around. In fact, some zinesters don't sell their work for money and only accept trades. It's one way zinesters can expand their audience and get their work out into the community, and it's also a way for zine aficionados to be able to read a wide variety of zines.
Because trading is such an important feature of zine culture, Multnomah County Library now has a zine exchange, a space for people to leave and/or take zines that are not part of the library's cataloged collection. (Another reason is that not all zines are appropriate for our cataloged collection – you can read our donation and collection development policies – the zine exchange provides an alternative way to get zines into the hands of readers.)
The library's zine exchange is a place for zinesters to share their work, and a way to trade zines you've already read for new ones. You don't have to leave a zine in order to take one, but please be considerate of others and remember that the zine exchange is all about sharing.
Zine exchanges are currently available at Central, Hillsdale, Holgate, Hollywood, and North Portland libraries. In keeping with the D.I.Y. spirit of the zine scene, each location's zine exchange is unique in appearance, but all of them are marked with the zine exchange logo and they all display information about how the Exchange works. (Photos of some of the zine exchanges are on our Flickr page.) If you need help finding the Exchange, or if you have any questions, just ask the friendly and knowledgeable library staff.
The fine print:
- Zines that have a library barcode and call number label must be checked out to the user's library account; these items are subject to existing library rules governing check out, renewal, and fines. Zines in the exchange box that do not have a library barcode and call number label are for trading or borrowing on the honor system.
- Zine exchange is a public service provided by Multnomah County Library for use and enjoyment by all members of the community. The library retains the right, however, to rescind or restrict any individual's privileges of leaving (donating) or taking (borrowing) zines based on this policy or the Rules of Behavior Governing Use of Multnomah County Library.
- The library retains the right to remove any material that does not conform to the library collection development criteria. Items in poor condition will also be discarded.
- If you think a zine should be added to the library's circulating collection, you must fill out a Suggestion for Purchase form or submit your suggestion online. Zines donated or traded via the exchange will not be automatically considered for addition to the circulating collection. If possible, please submit a review copy of any zines you are suggesting for purchase.
- We welcome your comments, questions, and concerns about the zine exchange! They should be directed to library staff or submitted in writing on a paper comment card, or in an e-mail to zines@multcolib.org, or with our online contact form.
- The zine exchange is a public service provided by Multnomah County Library for sharing self-published and independently produced publications. Purely commercial materials are not accepted. The availability of this material does not constitute the library's endorsement of any particular viewpoint.
