Spotlight: Craig Fellow Olivia Ligman

“How do I help build community? How do I get patrons to feel comfortable and be reflected in the materials that we keep in the library space?” Craig Fellow Olivia Ligman asks these essential questions as she considers issues of equity, access, and community regarding libraries.

Ligman, a graduate student earning her master’s in history and library science, works the Wells Scholars’ Commons Reference Desk and at the Education Library. Her E. Lingle Craig Fellowship project focuses on welcoming communities and people into libraries by making zines.

Equitable access for all

“I'm really interested in making information access equitable for as many people as possible in ways that work for them,” says Ligman.

She received her bachelors in African cultural studies and International Studies with an emphasis in political policy, politics, and economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. By the time she was a senior, she wanted to be a public services librarian working with communities.

When she was considering a project for her Craig Fellowship application, community was foremost in her mind. She wondered about the ways to invite the campus into the library. “I was thinking about collections. I was thinking about the ways patrons, specifically undergrads, can feel overwhelmed or intimidated by large library space,” Ligman said.

Her thoughts landed on approachable ways and materials that actually reflected the community being served, being made by the community. Already familiar with zines, she found her focus. “Anyone can make zines, and they can be about anything,” Ligman said. With the MakerSpace, now expanding into the Creator Commons, providing access to free materials, making zines seemed like the perfect answer. “It's one thing to have the great research tags and know browsing collections,” Ligman points out, “but it's another thing for a patron to see something made by another undergrad or maybe someone they saw in a class.” Ligman wants patrons to feel welcomed and feel that they do belong in libraries.

All about zines

Zines are not easily defined, according to Ligman. “Generally, at least in the American context, they are a kind of small form pamphlet or booklet; a work of creative art made by an individual or small group.” Ligman explains, “It can be made from anything. I've seen zines made into shapes like little squares. I've seen them make it out of paper made of cardboard and made from grocery bags. Really, the sky’s the limit.”

Another distinguishing feature is they are not mass produced or a commercial product. “Zine culture is rooted in a passion, and foundationally in community and creativity, rather than corporate interests or profit making,” Ligman adds. Used by counterculture groups such as feminists, punks, sci-fi fans, and LGBTQ+ during the last 4-5 decades, Ligman said that often zines have been related to or utilized by subaltern, non-mainstream populations.

“All in all, it's a really creative format that allows people to use the materials they have or any creative material in order to and express a creative idea, thought, or passion,” Ligman explains. “That's what makes it so versatile.”

Craig Fellowship Project

Ligman’s Craig Fellowship Project involved a zine-making workshop and an accompanying library research guide. Hosted in April during a thunderstorm-riddled day complete with tornado warnings, Ligman was pleased with the amount of people who attended despite the inclement weather. She started with a quick overview of zine history, definition, and materials available in the MakerSpace. “I did a little tutorial on the paper folding, cutting technique to make an eight-page zine out of a single 8 1/2 by 11 sheet, which people like because that's a common mini zine format. It’s what I use most of the time.”

“It was really fun. People were talking to each other, seeing what other people were making with their zines, and getting to know each other a little bit.” Ligman felt everyone learned something about zines and/or made a friend. Most left with their own handmade zine. “It was a gratifying experience,” Ligman says.

Ligman’s library research guide on zines is informative. It includes dozens of links to resources on history, making zines, zine cultures, and where to find zines on campus and in Bloomington. Both the Monroe County Public Library and IU’s LGBTQ+ Center Library have zines. IU Libraries has some that can be checked out while more are being catalogued and processed.“There are some zines that I have photocopied. They are available just to take; you don't have to check them out. They're just free for everyone in the Creative Commons.” Further, Ligman’s guide includes books on zines that can be checked out from IUCAT.

Even as her fellowship is ending, Ligman is committed to the zine project and its future development.

Librarians and libraries

Ligman has learned not only technical skills, but life skills from working at IU Libraries. She has come to love figuring out and meeting patrons’ needs using the reference interview, the conversation with a patron to fully understand their requests.

“I've also learned a lot from the librarians that I work with. They've been great mentors for me,” Ligman said. Leanne Nay, creative technologies librarian and interim head of Scholars' Commons, Nada Abdelrahim, creative instruction and outreach librarian, and Christina Jones, head of education library have all mentored Ligman. “Basically, everyone I work with in the libraries has been phenomenal in teaching me,” Ligman said. “Those little things that just build up and make you a stronger librarian.”

Perhaps most importantly, Ligman confirmed that she does belong in libraries. “I do love working in libraries. I love working with librarians. I love working with the materials and I do love working with the patrons and the public, which is something I think you can only truly know through experiencing it.”

E. Lingle Craig, who passed in 2001 at the age of 96, was the Head Reference Librarian at IU Libraries for over 30 years. He saw IU Libraries as his family. Like Olivia Ligman, he was devoted to patrons. IU Libraries is grateful for his generous donation, which funds the Craig Fellowship.