ESPA SMALL PRESS LIBRARY & ARCHIVE: CATALOGUE

In 2006 the ESPA launched an online searchable catalogue of our Small Press Library & Archive.

This is a huge undertaking that we project would take us at least 3 years to complete - IF we had full-time staff working on it (and exclusive of ongoing additions of new acquisitions); as it is, 10 years is a more realistic projection. In the meantime, guests to the catalogue will be able to search at least some of the thousands of zines, mail-art, posters, films, CDs/DVDs, lefty propaganda and other independent projects in our permanent collection. By the end of 2007 we had approximately 880 items entered, then went on cataloguing hiatus during 2008 to focus on our 10th Anniversary programming. We're hoping to resume cataloguing in 2009/2010, after seeking funding supports to hire dedicated 'staff' archivists (to lead coordination) and recruiting new volunteer archivists to assist.

Read a great review of the catalogue HERE. 

Start searching: Our catalog


  Donations to our library & archive are accepted year-round.

See the contacts page to send us your stuff - everything we receive will eventually be added to the catalogue, so your donations will be lovingly presented for all the world to see! Don't forget to send us full contact info so we know how to get a hold of you! If you have donated a project to us in the past 2 years but don't see it in the catalogue yet, please contact us and we'll do our best to prioritize your listing.

History of the Project
Many, many thanks to the Edmonton Arts Council, the University of Alberta's Community Services Learning (CSL) Project and the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations for supporting this project, and special thanks to the Humanities Computing student team who designed the catalogue for us. The Humanities Computing Student Team was: LianLian Chu, Maria Artemtsuk, Michael Lewcio & Dale Storie. Institutional Coordinators: Beth MacDonald (ECVO & CSL), Sara Dorow (CSL), Sean Gouglas, U of A Humanities Computing Prof. ESPA thanks local small press veteran Rudi Gunther as our Assistant Archivist on the project, and Ian Weetman and Betty Skankin for helping maintain the entries through 2007. Thanks also to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts who also support our operational activities.

SEARCH the catalogue HERE (http://www.edmontonsmallpress.ca/catalogue)