Round Table “Portuguese Network of Specialized Libraries | 1st Edition”

Date: June 26, 2024

The Round Table “Portuguese Network of Specialized Libraries – 1st Edition” took place in Aveiro on June 26, 2024, as part of the program for the 2nd Zine City – Meeting of Fanzines and Independent Publishing. It was held at 6:00 PM at Mercado José Estêvão.

The discussion, organized by the Municipality of Aveiro and Miguel Correia (Zine City), and moderated by Tito Couto, was the first meeting of several representatives from various fanzinetecas and bedetecas in Portugal.

They were: Ogata Tetsuo (Fanzineteca de Coimbra), Miguel Correia (Fanzineteca de Aveiro), Mário André and Rui Gaspar (Fanzineteca de Alpiarça), Júlio Moreira (Bedeteca do Porto), and Marco Fraga da Silva (Bedeteca Digital H-Alt).

This moment is highly significant, as it was the first time this group of people met in person and during which the idea of creating a Portuguese network of fanzinetecas, bedetecas, and specialized libraries focused on alternative and artist publications was publicly launched for the first time.

The movement was initiated by Miguel Correia, who coordinates the Fanzineteca of Aveiro.

It follows his initial research to identify libraries that currently hold publications of this type and are eligible to join the potential network, along with an extensive set of contacts, presenting this ambition and inviting each identified entity to become part of this network.

The main objectives behind creating such a network are:

-To encourage a spirit of interaction among the various specialized libraries in Portugal.
-To facilitate the touring of exhibitions of publications to several locations across the country.
-To promote conferences related to independent publishing and its surrounding themes.
-To ease the exchange of copies among the various participants.
-To work towards creating a common set of cataloging criteria for fanzines.
-To seek a consensual definition of the term “fanzine” and some related concepts.
-o share experiences and opinions.

This round table is the first, but there is an intention to hold many more with the various potential members.