News

New FanZine Donations!

The CRLL has increased its holdings thanks to the generosity of our fandom family. Kathy Chessbro, Joan Stephens, Jen Breiner and Sandy Tew have recently donated many zines to the collection. And we can't forget the gift from Marilyn Howard's estate. Let's hear a sigh of gratitude and a round of applause!!!!!

We now have second copies of 44 zines (It makes me really nervous to have only one. I can't imagine I'd ever replace some of these!) And Kathy's gift included 5 and Joan's included 3 zines lost in circulation or never owned. Sandy recently donated a full 12-volume set of the Overtures series, a most spectacular set of stories. The Library now owns 2 full sets of this very hard to find gem.

All donors go on our Donor List. I've had stickers made up commemorating each gift; they're placed inside the front cover. It's really exciting to find a zine we don't have. There are dozens more, though. So, if you have a box stashed somewhere chock-full of zines you've read till you have them memorized, if they need a new home ... :-) 

Kathy's and Marilyn Howard's donations also included dozens of newsletters and letterzines from back in the day. They contain letters of comment, artwork, some short stories, convention reports, etc., chronicling the fandom's early days before the internet, when correspondence was by snail mail. The history is interesting - sometimes painful - to read. But I was happy to see some names I recognize, which means we have endured!

I discovered a very special set of Digest Zines among the newsletters. I'd heard of the Overtures series (by Catherine Edwards), but I didn't think we owned it. What a wonderful surprise. 12 slim volumes of the most charming stories. Everyone should read these - they're special.

You can see the list of new zines HERE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

photo: Carole. San Diego Convention, 2010
photo effect and postcard: JKH