Shale prides itself in its ability to provide students, faculty, and other interested individuals with free printed copies of every new issue. In a time when digital publication is all too common, Shale values the printed page and the sensory experiences that a physical journal has to offer. We value how the pages’ ridges feel under your fingertips as you flip through an issue from cover to cover. We value the difference between glossy and matte finishes, how each portrays ink in a unique way. We value holding what you have helped to make in your hands, turning to the page where you find your name, pointing at your poem and telling yourself, “This is just the start.”

But most importantly, we value free, accessible art for all. So we gladly provide digital copies of older issues. Good art should not be forgotten, and neither should good beginnings.

        

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