Slow media, locally grown, pesticide-free.

Aug 27 CUL Benefit at Late Bar Tickets
RSVP on Facebook

The Chicago Underground Library is a new model for open, location-specific archiving of independent and small press media. We are always seeking books, magazines, zines, journals, broadsides, newspapers, and art books of all types, genres, and print runs from the Chicago area. (And maybe your city, too. Be patient, or ask us how to start your own.)

Open Acquisitions
We accept everything from the area (ever), regardless of perceived quality or importance in order to create a detailed index from which connections among the publications will emerge.

Obsessive Cataloging
Keeping records of everyone who contributed to a work, as well as keywording every subject, allows us to map the evolution (historically and contemporaneously) of Chicago’s communities and movements and encourage the production of new media by providing context, inspiration, and programming designed to support collaboration.

Ongoing Ambitions
Currently focusing on print, the CUL intends to expand into audio, video, performance documentation, and ephemera as our infrastructure permits.