Get Graphic Your Library

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Get Graphic _at_ Your Library

• A YALSA Institute
• presented for the
• Washington Library Association
• May 11, 2007
• by Francisca Goldsmith
• goldson_at_pacbell.net

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Agenda

• Introductions
• History
• Genres
• Literacy issues
• Social and political issues
• Collection development
• Cataloging and technical concerns
• Programming

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History of Graphic Novels (the 7-minute version)

• Narrative images
• Caricature
• Illustrated stories
• Funny pages
• Comic books
• Instructional manuals
• One off books and finite series

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Graphic Novels in Libraries (a slightly more
detailed history)

• Academic archives
• Browsing collections
• Prisons, teens, and professional discussion
• The teen focus in public and school libraries
• Broadening views and more available tools

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Graphic Novel Vocabulary

• Panel
• Image
• Balloon
• Bubble
• Gutter
• Flow
• Story
• Sequential art

• Penciler
• Inker
• Artist
• Manga
• Shoji
• Shojen
• Independents
• Superheroes

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Exercise 1Were you a comics reading kid? What
were you reading?
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Readers Advisory Genres
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Break
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Literacy

• Myths
• Realities
• Changes over time

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Teen Literacy Concerns

• Ability to decode text
• Capacity to grasp/enjoy narrative behind the code
• Requirements of non-native language
• Availability of time to read

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Myths about Graphic Novels and Literacy

• Reading comics is easier than reading plain text.
• Comics are a natural for readers new to the
  dominant language.
• Graphic novels most appropriate audience is
  youth.

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(No Transcript)
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Exercise 2Rewriting/Redrawing the Comics
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Literacy Facts

• Reading comics proficiently requires both
  linguistic and visual literacies.
• Comics often include rich and sophisticated
  written language.
• Images are not always culturally universal and
  can be offensive.
• There are comics more appropriate and less
  appropriate to every audience type.

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Literacy Is a Changing Concept

• Its more than decoding text.
• Youth reference mixed media with literacy skills
  and energy.
• Information acquisition and the enjoyment of
  story arent coterminus in the skills they demand.

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Other Social and Political Issues

• Women as they appear in comics
• People of color in comics
• Translations

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Lunch
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Collection Development

• Core lists
• Reviews of new material
• Vendors
• Communities can help
• Collection policies

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Exercise 3Reading and Writing Reviews
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Booktalking That Fits the Audience
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Break
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Cataloging Update

• Changes in Library of Congress prescriptions
• Alternative best practices

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Handling the Goods

• Processing issues
• Shelving concerns
• Repairing and replacing

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Programs Give Your Collection Legs

• Comic book swaps
• Trivia (and not so trivial) contests
• Graphic novel discussion groups
• Comic book production workshops
• Comics/graphic novels on film
• Superhero designing

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Exercise 4Program Proposal
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Program for Library Staff

• Adolescent development
• Adolescent social problems
• Pop culture

• Runaways/Re-Gifters/New Adventures of Abraham
  Lincoln
• Tale of One Bad Rat/The Amazing True Story of a
  of a Teenage Single Mom/Pedro and Me
• Para Para Para/Black Panther/Tough Love

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Wrapping Up

• Questions
• Evaluation