Vancouver Zine Guide
A selection of zines by Vancouver–based artists, Photo: Vancouver Art Gallery
Here in Vancouver, zines are circulated by artists in bookstores, markets, record and skate shops, in galleries and on various digital platforms. They are also collected and preserved by some of our public libraries and higher learning institutions. Use this guide for more zine access across the greater Vancouver area.
A Guide to Local Zine Collections and Communities
Libraries and Reading Rooms
“VPL’s zine collection covers a wide range of topics, often representing marginalized viewpoints not found in mainstream publishing.”
Locations: Central Library (350 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1) and Mount Pleasant Branch (1 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3H7)
“The RPL Zine Collection is now at the Main Library, part of Special Collections and housed/accessed via the Richmond Room. [The] Richmond Zine program is also actively accepting zine submissions from adults.”
Location: Brighouse (Main) Branch (100-7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond, BC V6Y 1R8)
“The ECU Library has a small but growing collection of zines that are located in the Special Collections Room on the first floor.”
Location: 520 E 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5T 1A7
Research Guide to Indigenous zine creators and zine distribution centres with Indigenous content.
Location: 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
“Zines are located at both the David Lam and New Westminster campus libraries and are an in-house browsing collection.”
Locations: David Lam (1250 Pinetree Way, room B1300 , Coquitlam, BC, CA, V3B 7X3) and New Westminster (700 Royal Ave, room N2100 , New Westminster, BC, CA, V3M 5Z5)
“Previously a storage closet, currently a reading room, the lowercase is home to hundreds of zines and self-published books.”
Location: 3934 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3P2
Bookstores
Impressive collection of books, small press publications and zines. Lucky’s is a community hub that accepts local zines and regularly hosts events.
Location: 3128 Main Street, Vancouver, BC, V5T 3G7
Great collection of unique zines by activists, poets and writers. Spartacus is a nonprofit, volunteer-run bookstore and resource centre offering tools for social change.
Location: 101-1983 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N 4A8
Local Book and Zine Fairs
“Vancouver Art Book Fair (VABF) is a non-profit organization committed to the advancement, appreciation and circulation of artists’ publishing.”
“[Vancouver Comic Arts Festival] is a two-day celebration of comics and graphic novels and their creators, including an exhibition and vendor fair featuring hundreds of creators from around the world.”
Started by local artists in 2023, the Zine Harvest is a semi-annual event described as, “A zine fair featuring a bounty of fresh hot zines from local artists in “Vancouver BC.”