Zines as resistance: Exploring the creative power of the Barnard Zine Library

At the Barnard Zine Library, creativity and activism collide, offering a sanctuary for those who wish to challenge the status quo.

Photo by Abigail Rabbitt/The Barnard Bulletin

By Abigail Rabbitt

March 25, 2025

The Barnard Zine Library sits nestled on the second floor of the Milstein Center, its shelves bursting with creativity, raw emotion, and truth. With over 5,000 zines in the open stacks and even more in climate-controlled archives, the library is home to an extensive collection of diverse and uninhibited voices. 

But what exactly is a zine? Zines (short for “fanzines” or “magazines”) are self-published, small circulation, independent booklets that have historically provided space for personal and political expression outside of oppressive systems. Typically inexpensive and made with simple materials like paper, old magazines, and glue, zines have the power to say things that have been left unsaid or silenced by commercial publishing, reimagining what it means to publish and be published. Zines serve as vital outlets for unrepresented and marginalized voices, presenting narratives that are often overlooked or excluded by mainstream media.

Founded in 2003, the Barnard Zine Library is an integral part of Barnard, giving students the opportunity to engage with zine culture and make their own pieces. The Barnard Zine Collective hosts frequent workshops, in which students come together to create and practice collaborative and meaningful art, utilizing a variety of mediums and techniques. Zine-making has become an essential part of not only Barnard’s cultural life, but its academic life as well. In fact, many professors have begun integrating this practice into syllabi, sometimes allowing students to create zines for final projects to showcase the importance of blending artistry and activism into academia.

The founder and director of the Zine Library, Jenna Freedman, sees zines as an “antidote to perfectionism,” which often accompanies the heavy academic pressure of Barnard and Columbia. “When I’m teaching a class, I like to share zines that you can connect to emotionally or intellectually or in lots of different ways but that also feel accessible. I love a zine that is made by someone who is a really skilled artist, but I also really appreciate a zine that is awkward as hell,” Freedman explained in an interview with The Bulletin. This emphasis on imperfection reminds us that self-expression does not have to be polished or refined to be valuable. The authentic and “awkward” nature of zines offer a space where messiness and experimentation are not only allowed but celebrated. 

Both Freedman and student librarian Zoe Foshee emphasize the importance of accessibility in zine culture, which contrasts the exclusivity often found in traditional publishing. “It’s nice to be able to provide material resources to a culture that is not about money or wealth,” Freedman said. Foshee echoed this sentiment in her hope to see this kind of anti-consumerist creation continue. “I think physical and print media is a tradition that needs to be practiced to be maintained,” said Foshee. “People need to know they can just make things.”    

While creating is a powerful practice, particularly for students, Freedman reminds us that reading through the library’s extensive collection allows individuals to encounter new perspectives and emotions. “I would personally love for people to think of zines not just as things to make but also things to read,” Freedman said.

With an emphasis on works addressing feminism, gender, and LGBTQIA+ experiences, the Barnard Zine Library is an archive of marginalized voices that is integral to preserving and amplifying diverse perspectives. Foshee recognizes the significance of this, saying, “I think the Zine Library acts as a safe haven for political and personal speech. Zines maintain an air of privacy based on the media format that allows for people to express things they may be afraid to share for systematic or personal reasons.” 

In addition to the open stacks, the Barnard Zine Library houses a large collection in its climate-controlled archives, preserving a second copy of each zine on open display, as well as rare and historically significant pieces. One of the oldest works in the collection dates back to 1914, a political zine about the role of women in marriage, titled “Marriage and Love.” The collection also includes zines from the 1980s and 1990s, a time when zines played a crucial role in feminist, punk, and queer activism. These pieces serve as primary resources that capture contemporary voices and concerns, allowing students and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of liberation movements and cultural shifts.  

“My favorite zines are the ones that my friends make,” Freedman said, reflecting the sense of community that defines zine-making. There is such beauty in being able to express oneself through words and art in a safe place and format. 

Zines remain an essential tool for activism and resistance, an outlet for storytelling that challenges the narratives of dominant culture. Whether you’re reading or creating, the library invites you to engage with zines, explore new perspectives, and contribute to a space that values authenticity and creativity.