audra mcnamee

Mini zine: I Strongly Recommend the Library

—

by

audra
in

Debuted at the 2023 PDX Zine Symposium. The official copies were also riso printed at Outlet in Portland, but the photographed version was printed off at home. This was partially so I could post it on instagram before I’d gone to Outlet, but also because I’ve arbitrarily imposed the rule that I have to alternate black & white and colored images on my instagram feed. And I was due for a black & white image.

I can’t claim the rule makes my profile look any better (and I’ve definitely broken it at least three times) but having a silly little challenge I have to complete makes posting on instagram slightly more interesting.

All this to say if you buy a copy (they’re in the store!) you’ll get a nice seafoam green version.

Cover: "I strongly recommend the library," says Audra, a person with long curly hair and circular glasses. "A zine made with excitement and haste."
Page 1: Audra holds an unwieldy pile of books, "Y'know, the library." A copy of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed has fallen off the pile of books. Page 2: "...where the books live?" A copy of Broad Band by Claire L. Evans and Stone Fruit by Lee Lai have fallen off the pile of books.
Page 3: Audra: "But you can check out more than physical books! I'm a sucker for the different digital services the library offers. I'm in the Multnomah County library system and I bet you have access to similar." Page 4: "Ebooks, digital comics, digital magazines, audiobooks (though you can't check out Audible exclusives because booo Amazon), all through Libby!" Different kinds of materials you can check out, including the comic Now Let Me Fly by Ronald Wimberly and Brahm Revel, Ace by Angela Chen, The Likeness by Tana French, and magazine Bon Appetit.
Page 5: "More comics, TV and movies, and even music within Hoopla." Comic The Human Target, television show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, and Barbie the album. Page 6: "Kanopy has even more movies. And don't overlook the research tools. In the newspaper archives, you can read about the 1940s childhood of a local computer scientist, then make a (usually paywalled) excellent zucchini pasta. Legally and for free!" Audra sprawls on the floor reading a newspaper, and then makes a pasta.
Page 7: Audra whispers: "I also hear the library: Has private study rooms you can book for two hours at a time. Offers space to host events and classes, if they're free and open to all. Lets you post stuff on their bulletin boards. Using the library helps keep it open! Catch you out there." "audmcname.com, October 2023"
Blurry polaroid of Allia and Audra tabling at the Portland Zine Symposium
Thanks to Drew for the photo of our table