Independent Publishing Resource Center

“It’s been a little more than a year since I stumbled on your magical rooms and they have allowed me to share my work with others, the ultimate goal of the creative process. I finished five books this past year and have more in the works, my kids even want me to start doing cards so who knows. I couldn’t have done it without you. Whenever anyone asks, I tell them “Everything I know, I learned at the IPRC.”
–Lance Linder, IPRC member

“The IPRC has been a huge part of what makes living in Portland so awesome!”
–Theo Ellsworth, Graphic Novelist and author of Capacity

“The IPRC is a magicland.”
–Katy Maehl, IPRC visitor

“The IPRC is kind of like a fairy godmother, only instead of giving one girl a temporary pumpkin carriage and a pair of dangerous shoes, the center gives a whole community of creatives the means to make, print, publish and thrive.  That’s a much better use of magic, if you ask me.”
–Amanda Huckins, writer and letterrpress printer

The IPRC’s mission is to facilitate creative expression, identity and community by providing individual access to tools and resources for creating independently published media and artwork. In our twelve years of operation, we’ve  provided artistic services to upwards of 23,000 Oregonians through membership, use of the Center, workshops and outreach programs. We’ve empowered thousands of people to create and publish their own artwork, writing, zines, books, websites, comics and graphic novels. We’ve helped community members find their artistic voices—-especially disenfranchised youth (including GLBT, minority, at-risk, and homeless youth) whose lifestyles and experiences tend to be marginalized in the major media. We’ve helped countless individuals to discover themselves through art, and to reach and inspire others in the community by publishing and sharing their work. By gathering such diverse people under one roof, the IPRC nourishes an expansive and productive community. In fact the IPRC is at the very heart of Portland’s vibrant “do-it-yourself” (DIY) artistic and literary communities–it’s a creative home for many local artists, and an incubator for the independent creative spirit that makes Portland unique.

The IPRC is one of the only nonprofit self-publishing centers of its kind anywhere in the world.  We offer access to workspace and tools to aid in the production and distribution of zines, comics, hand-bound books and artwork.  This includes computer workstations for writing, scanning, graphic design & desktop publishing, and high-speed internet access for research and networking purposes; two copiers, five table-top letterpresses, a Bind-Fast 5 Perfect-Binding Machine, and various other tools for creating, binding, and assembling publications.  We also have two art galleries and one of the nation’s largest circulating zine libraries.

Here’s a tour of the facilities at the IPRC.

Rates

Workspace and equipment is available to any member of the public at either an hourly ($5/hour) or yearly rate (begins at $45-100/year, sliding scale).

Orientation

The IPRC holds two Orientations a month: second Thursdays from 7-8 pm and third Saturdays from 3-4pm at the Center, 917 SW Oak #218. Prospective users and general public who are interested in the Publishing Center are welcome to attend.  Note:  Orientation attendance is not required in order to become a member online, register for workshops, or visit the center, however new members are encouraged to attend an orientation within a month of joining the IPRC.

The IPRC offers educational workshops on a variety of subjects related to publishing. The workshops are designed to give participants technical information and hands-on experience which they can they apply to their individual projects. We are always expanding our offerings based on the public demand for topics relating to publishing, writing and artwork.

Topics Include:

• Bookbinding and Bind-Fast 5 Perfect Binding (this involves using a machine to produce actual books with a flat spine)
• Design & Publishing Software (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
• Comic, Zine, Chapbook and Web publishing
• Copyright Law, Editing & Revision, and Distribution & Promotion Seminars
• Letterpress Printing, Printmaking Basics
• Creative Business Practices
• DIY Screenprinting
• Flipbooks
• Youth Zine-Making Workshops
• Our Yearlong Certificate Program in Independent Publishing, featuring three separate tracks in 1) Fiction/Nonfiction 2) Poetry and 3) Comics/Graphic Novels.  For more info on this program click here

We are always looking for workshop instructors to expand our quality offerings. Contact us if you have relevant skills and a little time to work with enthusiastic self-publishers.

All workshop space is limited and pre-registration is required. Register with payment at the IPRC or online by clicking on the Brown Paper Tickets logo under the workshop description on the homepage. For a list of upcoming workshops, peruse our calendar.

Registration Policy

Workshop Registration Info

• You may make a reservation for a workshop online by clicking on the Brown Paper Tickets logo under the workshop description or in person at the IPRC.  Full payment for the class must be received at the time of registration.
• If a workshop is full, we will put you on a wait list and contact you if a space opens up.
• Bring any material fees when you attend your workshop.
• You may cancel your reservation within 7 days of a workshop for a full refund.
• If a workshop is canceled because of lack of enrollment, you’ll receive a 100% refund.
• Members receive first listed price in course descriptions. Youth ( 8 – 18) receive member-price for any non-youth workshops. Please contact with questions regarding age appropriateness.

Questions? Call 503.827.0249 or email info@iprc.org

After completing Intro to Letterpress or equivalent, the letterpress print shop at the IPRC has open print hours with trained staff available to help you with your project. Currently the print shop open hours are:

• Sundays 5 – 8pm
• Mondays 6 – 9 pm
• Thursdays 6 – 9 pm

(After you are fully trained, you may qualify for full-access printing during all IPRC open hours.) You may call ahead to sign up for a press. To use the presses you must purchase a $30 10-use punch card, or pay $3 each time you ink a press. The Letterpress print shop is always looking for volunteers to help out, and volunteers may use the letterpress room for free.

IPRC member Debbie West on the beloved Golding press

In the winter of 2010, we transformed our Computer Lab into a state of the art Yeti Research Station, featuring resources and equipment for Yeti-detection and general cryptozoological inquiry.  The Station features a map of Oregon Yeti sightings, a Yeti-meter, fur samples, a Sasquatch footprint artifact and our Furry Printer.  We’re also proud to display various artistic interpretations of Yeti, Sasquatch, Bigfoot and Abominable Snowmen.  In addition we carry the Northwest’s finest selection of Yeti-based zines and publications.

The Station is open for research purposes to all IPRC members.  Free tours are available for non-members anytime during Open Hours.

All Yeti sightings should be recorded in our Yeti Log.

The IPRC is also a space for members to build a community among their fellow self-publishers. In the past we have hosted Zine Publishers’ Potlucks, and groups for Book Artists, Writers, and Comic Artists. Letterpress printing hours are hosted every Monday and Thursday evening to provide an opportunity for information exchange as well as supervised work time for those who have taken the prerequisite workshop.

If you’re interested in starting a new group or participating in one that is already happening, please give us a call.