Coleg Menai staff member opens the first Zine Library in Wales
A staff member at Coleg Menai has opened the first Zine Library in Wales, running workshops from the campus.
Elin Angharad, a learning resources assistant at the Bangor campus’ library, has started ‘Zine Library Wales’, a zines creation workshop.
Zines are self-publications full of original or acquired images and words. Topics and themes vary, allowing designers free range in their zine creations. Most of the themes are not covered by the main media, allowing the audience and creator to have access to a wide range of topics.
When asked how she discovered zines, Elin said: “I've always enjoyed reading and creating zines. I enjoyed creating illustrated publications of myself as a kid. I have a large personal collection of zines, art books and chapbooks, and I enjoy attending zine art fairs in order to add to my collection.”
Although usually created digitally, Elin explores different methods of creating zines in the workshop. She prefers to create zines by hand, however she brings along different materials to the workshop, from magazines to typewriters!
Elin explained: “The most important thing about creating zines is that the process is super fun! There are no rules, no mistakes - having fun and expressing yourself freely is the purpose of creation.”
The Zine Library Wales at Coleg Menai is the first official library in Wales. Elin added: “The popularity of zines is once again growing - perhaps in response to the digital age, and with a craving for retro nostalgia - so I'm sure we will see more and more zines activities emerge.”
Elin was keen to emphasise that anyone and everyone can join the zine workshop.
For more information or queries on the workshop please contact Elin on jones27e@gllm.ac.uk
You can see the results of the workshops, as well as a display of the zines in the library by following the Instagram account @zinecymru.
