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Zines and Alternative Publishing: Books and Articles

Accessing Books and Articles

To begin checking out books, bring your SMFA ID to the Library (3rd floor, B side of the Fenway building) and set up an account. 

Through our membership in the Fenway Libraries Online (FLO) consortium, we offer access to over 1 million print and electronic books. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to explore the collections in one, some, or all of the following ways:

  • Search the FLO catalog (below). Ebook titles can be accessed directly via the catalog by logging in with your Library barcode.
  • Browse the SMFA Library's print book collection using the call number guide below, or let serendipity work its magic.
  • Request books from other FLO libraries via the catalog. Most arrive at the SMFA Library in less than a week.
  • Visit the other libraries in the FLO consortium and check out books directly. 

The SMFA Library provides access to a range of serial publications, from newspapers to popular magazines to scholarly peer-reviewed journals, in both print and electronic formats. Article databases are fully accessible on campus, and accessible off-campus with your Library barcode.

Can't find it at the SMFA?

If you can't find what you need at the SMFA Library, we may be able to obtain a copy for you elsewhere.

Visit our Interlibrary Loan page, or contact Lauren Kimball-Brown for more information:

  • lkimball-brown@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3971

Contact us!

Please feel free to get in touch with a librarian at any stage of your research process. Stop by the library (located on the third floor of the B side of the Fenway building), or get in touch directly with:

Ashley Peterson

  • apeterson@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3653

Darin Murphy

  • dmurphy@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3651

Circulation Desk (evening and weekend contact)

  • library@smfa.edu
  • 617-369-3650

Search the FLO catalog

Search the FLO Library Catalog to find print and electronic books.


 

Book Arts Call Number Guide

Visit the following call number ranges, related to Book Arts, in the SMFA Library's print book collection:

N7433.3 – 7433.4 Artists' books Z250 – 249 Typography
PN6700 – 6790 Comic books, graphic novels, etc Z266 – 700 Bookbinding and book repair
Z100 Book design Z286.Z54 Zines
Z116 – 286 Book industry and trade Z1033.T68 Toy and movable books—Pop-up books

Zines and Alternative Publishing Subject Headings

Try browsing these Library of Congress subject headings in the FLO catalog:

Fan magazines
Little magazines
Underground press publications
Zines

Zines and Alternative Publishing Print Periodicals in the Library

The SMFA Library subscribes to dozens of print periodicals on a range of art and cultural topics. The newest issues must be read in-Library, and back issues may be checked out for 24 hours. Some relevant titles:

smfa