Resources for the Alternative Press

by RoryLitwin

Students of media consolidation and market censorship are well aware of the importance of small, independent and alternative publishers in providing balanced viewpoints in libraries. In our practice as librarians we know that there is an array of institutional challenges to learning about, acquiring and making available literature from these hidden corners of the publishing world. SRRT’s Alternatives in Publication Task Force has made the following tip sheets and bibliographies available to provide background on the issue and to facilitate access to alternative literature…

4 comments on “Resources for the Alternative Press”

  2. Jack… Contrary to typical anti-Cuban misinformation, the independent publishing scene (and by independent I do not mean dissident) is part of Cuba’s thriving cultural sector. There are a couple of hundred book publishing companies in Cuba. These are private companies publishing books for audiences within Cuba. There is much support for Cuban publishing from the Cuban government, but it is independent – which is exactly the kind of situation that advocates for better cultural policy in the U.S. are striving for.

    For access to Cuban books, see:
    http://www.cubacultura.com/?ref=pex

  3. Rory, you referred in Library Juice 7:26 to “countries with nationalized systems of publication, such as Cuba.”

    Wouldn’t a “nationalized system of publication” by definition exclude “independent” publishers?

    And what about “alternative” publishers in Cuba?

  4. I have to admit that when I wrote that I wasn’t aware of the fact that Cuba has a couple of hundred small publishing companies. I learned about it reading an email exchange between Steve Marquardt and Dana Lubow (who has traveled to Cuba many tiems). I also assumed, at that time, that Cuba’s publishing system was entirely a government operation.

    I don’t really know how their publishing system works. It may be, and I am merely speculating here, but it seems logical to me, that small publishers and arts organizations are very heavily subsidized in Cuba, if not in some cases totally government supported, while remaining mostly self-directed (as long as they don’t oppose the revolution). This would be in keeping with the high degree of local democracy that exists in Cuba, in towns, factories, etc.

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