A cover from one of the Cartoneros titles.

A whole new model of bottom-up publishing is florishing in Argentina as a result of the economic collapse there of 2001. In 2003, a group of artists and writers wanted to find a way to help the cartoneros—people who scavenged scraps of cardboard and paper to sell to recyclers—make a living wage. They hit upon the idea of publishing hand-made books using recycled materials. By buying the cardboard at above market value, and paying the cartoneros to help in the design and making of the books, Eloísa Cartonera publishing house is making some of the most colorful and varied books around.

And the project is so successful it has spread to other countries throughout South America. And many of the projects have now established social and educational elements as well.

The University of Wisconsin Digital Collections library, with over 250 Cartoneros titles is “one of the largest and most comprehensive Cartonera collections in the U.S,” according to their website. Cruise their site to learn more, and be inspired by some of the amazing covers.