Bluestockings recently hosted a presentation entitled Women’s Radical Research, by Kate Angell and Jenna Freedman.  A reference librarian at Sarah Lawrence College and a research librarian at Barnard College respectively, the pair reviewed a useful list of reference resources for activists, independent journalists, students and beyond.  Angell and Freedman are also members of Radical Reference, a network of librarians from across the United States which helps answer reference questions for activists and independent journalists. Their presentation served as a useful look into some easily accessible, free resources for anyone with research needs, especially those in social justice, queer and women’s studies related areas.

Below is an overview of most of the internet and local New York City resources mentioned at the event.  Whether you’re looking for primary sources, international statistics or riot grrrl zines, the links below may be of use to you! If you have more questions or are looking for additional resources, Radical Reference can be contacted here.

ZINES
Zinelibrary.info – a large, searchable archive of a wide range of zines (.pdf’s available for download!)
Queer Zine Archive Project – searchable archive of queer related zines (.pdf’s available for download!)

Physical Archives and Collections
ABC No Rio Zine Library – library of zines at ABC No Rio in the Lower East Side. Open to the public but the zines are not in circulation and may not be removed from the building.
Barnard Library Zine Collection – zine collection at the Barnard College library. Visitors without Barnard library access can contact a zine librarian to make an appointment!
Fales Library and Special Collections – the special collections of the NYU library, soon featuring the Riot Grrrl Collection starting in December 2010! Appointments are necessary but the library is open to all researchers.
Tamiment Library – NYU based center for scholarly research on Labor and the Left. Features archival, print, photograph, film, and oral history collections which are open to the public.
Lesbian Herstory Archives – facility of books, zines, and more on lesbian topics in Brooklyn.

Other Search Engines Online
Directory of Open Access Journals – free, full text, quality controlled scientific and scholarly journals.
Elizabeth A. Sackler Feminist Art Base – feminist artists and their work, connected with the Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum.
Guttmacher Institute – International research and statistics regarding sexual and reproductive health
PQDT Open – academic dissertations and theses available for free
Woman Stats Project – statistics on the status and safety of women from over 174 countries
Tamiment Library Web Archives – searchable database of periodically captured sites on Labor and the Left

You can find Jenna Freedman’s blog online at jenna.openflows.com along with Kate Angell’s brand new blog at somebodysautobiography.wordpress.com!