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| Graphic
Novels, Comics, and the Common Core, 2013 |
SDCC ’18: Graphic Novel Explosion Reaches Libraries, Why Can’t You
Find Any to Read?
Comics
Beat: 7.27.2018 by
Victor Van Scoit
There’s
many reasons to build out an adult graphic novel collection in a library. Graphic
novels aid in keeping a library relevant with the current culture. They
serve as an entry to reading for those adults that aren’t fond of traditional
novels. Graphic novels are excellent tools in increasing literacy—both prose
and visual—for adult literacy and ESL programs. But none of that matters if
patrons can’t find those graphic novels easily.
That
seems to be the biggest foundational hurdle libraries are facing when building
an adult graphic novel section based on insight from the Strategies for Successful Adult Graphic
Novel Collection Development in Public Libraries panel. Moderated by Monica
Barrette (Escondido
Public Library) with panelists Cassidy Charles (Santa
Barbara Public Library), Marcela Peres (Lewiston
Public Library, Director), and Amie Wright (Edmonton Public Library,
Library Manager) the panelists shared experiences that could easily transcend
into the world of retail.
Panelist
first noted how best to make the case to those in charge for budget approvals.
This required reminding to at times forego the theoretical merits for the
practical merits of hard data. This data could be shared as one-sheets with
critical data for decision makers to understand your needs. Another idea was to use existing circulation
data of the library’s books to invest in similar genres for the graphic novel
collection.
Making
graphic novels intuitive to locate is the biggest hurdle, and any obstacle
might turn away a potential new reader. Cassidy Charles found buried in the
children’s collection 1000 items categorized incorrectly, making it difficult
even if you did know what you were looking for. Should one organize by genre,
publisher, writer, artist, title? READ
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