A Survey of Artist-Run Libraries, Community Archives & Creative Resource Initiatives
Answer the questions to help us at Gray Area (https://grayarea.org) build a practical guide from your experiences and resources. The final publication will map the growing landscape of artist-run grassroots libraries, archives, and creative resource centers.
Your Name
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First Name
Last Name
Email Address
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example@example.com
Name of Library or Archive
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Personal Information
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I agree to share my name or email within the guide.
No personal information shall be shared in the guide.
Location (City)
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Optional: Neighborhood
Type of Organization
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Artist-Run Library
Community Archive
Creative Resource Center
All above
Other
Year Established
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Describe your main activities and services.
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What inspired you to start or join the library/archive/creative center?
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E.g., Was there a specific gap, moment, or frustration behind the decision? Who came up with the project idea? Was it an individual, collective, or existing organization?
Tell us more about your space. Where is the project physically located, and how did you find and secure the space?
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E.g., Is the space shared with another organization, or dedicated solely to your project? Who can access it, and how (open hours, appointment, membership)? Can people borrow materials, or is it reading-room/reference only?
What is the collection focused on, and how do you decide what belongs in it?
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E.g., How do books/hardware/materials enter the collection (donations, acquisitions, artist submissions)? Is there a cataloging or organizing system? Anything you deliberately choose not to collect?
How is the project currently funded?
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E.g., Self-funded, grants, memberships, donations, sales, host institution. Has your funding model changed over time? Why? Roughly how many hours of volunteer labor keep this running weekly?
What are the biggest challenges you have faced?
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E.g., What's the hardest ongoing challenge of keeping the project running? Has burnout, turnover, or capacity been an issue? How have you handled it?
What resources, tools, or methods have been most helpful to your work?
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E.g., What's something you wish you'd known before starting? What's one mistake worth avoiding?Any resources, spaces, or people who were essential to your project that you'd point others toward?
Any photos, ephemera, or visual materials you'd like included?
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