Digital Zines: Home

A traditional zine is a handmade, self-published booklet or magazine typically produced using low-cost methods. It often features a DIY aesthetic, with cut-and-paste layouts, hand-drawn illustrations, and personal or grassroots content. These zines are distributed physically, often in local communities, libraries, or at events. In contrast, a digital zine is created and shared electronically—through PDFs, websites, or social media platforms. While digital zines can mimic the visual style of traditional ones, they offer broader accessibility, interactive features, and easier distribution. Both formats serve similar purposes—self-expression, community building, and sharing niche or underrepresented perspectives—but differ in their medium and reach. Zines are especially valued in libraries and archives for preserving grassroots perspectives and alternative narratives that might otherwise be overlooked.