Look Back Library

Last updated
Look Back Library
Look Back Library Zine.jpg
Formation2015;7 years ago (2015)
FounderKevin Marks
TypeNonprofit organization
Headquarters San Diego, California, U.S.
Staff
1
Website lookbacklibrary.org

Look Back Library (LBL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of skateboard magazines, and other printed skateboard materials, through traveling exhibits and the building of publicly accessible skateboard magazine libraries. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Mission

As a "Skate Mag Preservation Society" the Look Back Library aims to promote literacy and the appreciation of printed skateboard materials, particularly magazines. The LBL engages in community outreach through exhibits of classic skate magazines; as well as, installing skate magazine libraries at local Skate shops and other venues. [4]

The Look Back Library at KCDC skate shop in Brooklyn, NY has many old and new issues of skate magazines from Thrasher to Strength to Slap Look Back Library at KCDC skateshop - Brooklyn, NY - USA.jpg
The Look Back Library at KCDC skate shop in Brooklyn, NY has many old and new issues of skate magazines from Thrasher to Strength to Slap

History

Founded by Kevin Marks in 2014, the Look Back Library originated from a pet project of Marks' to improve the skate magazine library at Launch, a community skate organization located in Fort Collins, Colorado. [5] [6] While improving the library at Launch, he noticed considerable interest from both readers and collectors. Marks conceived of the Look Back Library as a way to place the magazine duplicates he was accumulating into a space where the public could read them. [2] The Look Back HQ is located in San Diego, CA, with Marks spending a good portion of the year traveling and installing libraries. [7] [8]

41 Years of the Ollie

In 2019, Look Back Library travelled around the United States, touring a show titled 41 Years of the Ollie - a magazine cover exhibit exploring the history of the ollie. [9]

Look Back Library traveling exhibit of classic skateboard magazines at a skate shop in New Brunswick, NJ 06 15 2019 Look Back Library exhibit NJ Skate Shop New Brunswick NJ.jpg
Look Back Library traveling exhibit of classic skateboard magazines at a skate shop in New Brunswick, NJ

Libraries

California

Washington

Oregon

Colorado

New Mexico

Arizona

Virginia

Pennsylvania

New York

New Jersey

Massachusetts

Maryland

North Carolina

Georgia

South Carolina

Florida

Texas

Oklahoma

Nebraska

Kentucky

Indiana

Tennessee

Ohio

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Illinois

Kansas

Michigan

Missouri

Canada

Australia

Note: *libraries available by appointment only

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References

  1. "Lookback Library Video and Events". www.thrashermagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  2. 1 2 "LOCALS: BUILDING FREE SKATE MAGAZINE LIBRARIES WITH KEVIN MARKS". Jenkem Magazine. 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  3. "Look Back Library: the World's Largest Collection of Skate Magazines". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  4. "How the world's biggest skate mag collection become a hub for learning". Huck Magazine. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  5. "Look Back Library". Next Up Foundation. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  6. admin (2016-04-24). "Looking Back Library – Interview with Kevin Marks by Sergej Vutuc". Confusion Magazine: International Skateboarding Magazine. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  7. "These Skateboard Magazine Libraries Are Fighting To Immortalise Print". Konbini - All Pop Everything! (in French). Retrieved 2019-07-03.
  8. "A Look into the Look Back Library". SOLO Skateboardmagazine.
  9. "Lookback Library Video and Events". www.thrashermagazine.com.
  10. "CATCHING UP WITH KEVIN, THE TRAVELING SKATE MAG LIBRARIAN". Jenkem Magazine. 9 July 2019.
  11. Bland, David Travis. "Kevin Marks Brings His Archive of Skateboard Magazines to Columbia". Post and Courier.