(Systems from) Presses Kept Running

Operating patterns in community print spaces.

Continuing from where we left off in (Systems for) Keeping the Presses Running, I wanted to share a small compendium of the patterns I’ve seen in use at printshops that I‘ve been visiting and researching in my work.

I’m dividing this into five sections:

1. Access to Equipment

2. Materials, Inventory, and Rates

3. Maintenance Procedures

4. Teaching + Programs

5. Collaborations between Spaces

Where does all of this information come from? Well, it’s a lot of notes and conversations I’ve had on my last few repair tours, paired with anything I have been able to find or request from folks, about their logistical models, history, and systems.

• Here’s (some of the) raw information: [Archive] PRINTSHOPS AND BOOKSTORES (started when I was doing some groundwork for starting an independent bookstore). I’ve been gradually building out a chart outlining the membership models, rates, and classes/programs that different spaces offer.

• A sub-project of that is gathered here: [Archive] CO-OP-Examples-01-EX-A.pdf (a collection of the rules/agreements/bylaws from different community presses).

The single note where I’ve been building this compendium—it is too hefty.

Interjecting on myself, as an editor: I have been writing this post for the past two or so months, and it’s huge—near on 9,000 words. India (of Late Night Copies) says “I think you’re writing a book, chapter by chapter, in real time, for an audience.” Which is probably correct—and it doesn’t make sense to build all that up into one gigantic post. So instead I’ll treat this as a “table of contents,” and split it up the material into a different article for each of the topics above (and maybe one day it’ll all find its way into print).

The “access” chapter is going to go up soonafter a little more fine tuning. It might not really be what this sort of place is for, but why not.

In the meantime, a little side feature on some of the substacks from friends that I recommend:

• Bear Snacks from bearbear (https://www.bearbear.co/)
  Super sweet updates from super sweet humans, including lots on the various business decisions and forays and things they do to keep their printshop afloat. Plus there is now a third bear, which is huge tiny news.

• Pit Pat’s Chit Chat from Secret Room (https://www.secretroompress.com/)
  Pit Pat is just a sneaky little guy! And the mascot of one of the best little comics presses (and now zine shops) in PDX—this little rag covers his exploits and the various strange happenings (readings, performances, pony adoptions, visitations, screenings, etc.) in the secret room.

• Zine Hug from Zine Hug (https://zinehug.com/)
  Close friends in Seattle—I love Zine Hug (and their giant cat Toki is one of the icons of the riso community). I consider them the backbone of riso animation, they are constantly putting together short animations and comics, and teaching others how to do the same.

• ANEMONE from ANEMONE (https://anemone.studio/)
  Amelia and Adam are a major part of the reason I’m in the riso scene in the first place—and are constantly inspirations for the sharing of resources + processes. Plus, it’s based on Amelia’s guidance that I started up this little Substack. So, check out this process diary to learn more about the adventures and endeavors of the people from the origin of it all.

• Animation Obsessive
  News from another medium—I really like the journalism in this little animation periodical. Every few weeks they put out an article that includes one or two features on projects, archives, bits of history, or individual animators—and pair that with news on upcoming or recently released projects from the (mostly indie) animation world.

Probably some more features yet to come a few posts down the road.

So that is all for now—the first big systems post is coming shortly!