Free Webinar! Graphic Novels: A Gateway for Reluctant Readers

Below is a description for a free Webinar from the Texas State Library and Archives. It's only an hour long, so why not sign up! Don't delay because the Webinar is next week, Tuesday September 7, 2010 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM (CST).

"During this one hour webinar, Kyla Hunt, Library Services Consultant for the Texas State Library & Archives Commission, will talk about how reading graphic novels can help build literacy. She will discuss how and why various types of comics appeal to different reader-groups, from wordless picture books for younger kids to manga for teens. The webinar will end with discussion of program ideas designed to encourage readers to get excited about the world of comics, and eventually, the world of reading."

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 10-11:00 AM Central Time

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/workshops/webinars/graphicnovels/

Read Comics in Public Day, Saturday, August 28, 2010

Is your library promoting Read Comics in Public Day?

http://readcomicsinpublic.com/

Sponsored by The Daily Cross Hatch

http://thedailycrosshatch.com/

Selecting the Right Stuff: A NETLS Symposium

On Friday August 13, 2010, I had the privilege of leading a "breakout session" during a Northeast Texas Library System (NETLS) on Graphic Novels in Libraries. Dr. Elizabeth Figa, associate professor in the Department of Library and Information Sciences at the University of North Texas, was originally scheduled to lead the session, but she had a scheduling conflict. She asked me to fill in for her. Hopefully, I did not disappoint the participants who were expecting to see and hear Dr. Figa, who is one of the leading educators in library science, and has a heart for service, teaching, and research.

I presented my session, using a PowerPoint presentation. Most of my slides were images of simple comic book covers, but I used notes to highlight certain aspects of the presentation. I promised the participants that I would post some links and information, relating to the presentation. So, below you will find what I promised. Hopefully, it will help their and your work with graphic novels in libraries. If you have resources that you would like to share with me or others, then please reply to this post. Thanks!

Elizabeth Figa’s BIG list of Graphic Novels Websites and Resources
http://www.courses.unt.edu/efiga/GraphicNovels/GraphicNovelsAndComicsWebsites.htm

Brief survey of comics (Some of the structure of my presentation was modeled after Jamie Coville’s Website.)
http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/cmbk2fungold.html

AWARDS AND LISTS

Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_main.php

Harvey Awards
http://www.harveyawards.org/

YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/gn.cfm

TLA’s Maverick Graphic Novels List
http://www.txla.org/groups/Maverick

COMICS AND LITERACY

For Improving Early Literacy, Reading Comics Is No Child's Play
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091105121220.htm

Comics Are Key to Promoting Literacy in Boys, Study Says
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping/886042-443/comics_are_key_to_promoting.html.csp

ACQUISITIONS

Diamond Comic Book Distributors, Inc.
http://www.diamondcomics.com/public/

Find a local comic book shop
http://www.comicshoplocator.com/

CATALOGING

Graphic Novels in DDC: Discussion Paper
http://www.oclc.org/dewey/discussion/papers/graphicnovels.htm

Cataloging Graphic Novels
http://diamondbookshelf.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=20&s=181&ai=37812&ssd=

One Library’s Solution to the Catalog Problem
http://esr.lib.ttu.edu/bitstream/handle/2346/1530/GraphicNovelsInLibrariesOneLibrariesSolutionToTheCatalogingProblem.pdf?sequence=1

SHELVING
http://www.pandorable.com/graphicnovels/shelving.html

CHALLENGES / CENSORSHIP

ALA’s Dealing with Challenges to Graphic Novels
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/ifissues/graphicnovels.cfm

Doug’s Recommended Essentials for Librarians (short list)...

Buy and read this book:
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud(http://scottmccloud.com/)

Join this Yahoo! Group:
Graphic Novels in Libraries- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GNLIB-L/

Read these blogs:

Comic Book Resources (Join their page on Facebook)
http://www.comicbookresources.com/blogs

Good Comics for Kids
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids

Young Adult Library Services Association - Great Graphic Novels for Teens

The last post highlighted the Texas Library Association and its Young Adult Round Table's Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List. This post takes things to a national level with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The mission of YALSA is to "is to advocate, promote and strengthen library service to teens, ages 12-18, as part of the continuum of total library services, and to support those who provide library service to this population."

One way that YALSA fulfills its mission is by selecting titles for its Great Graphic Novels for Teens list. Like the Texas Maverick Committee, YALSA solicits nominations for graphic novel and Manga titles from their Web site. The lists have highlighted anywhere from 40-70+ titles. Unlike the Maverick Committee, YALSA has also compiled a list of Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens for 2010 and for previous years.

Judging from the few lists of recommended graphic novels (TLA since 2010 and ALA since 2007), you may think that graphic novels, Manga, and comics in libraries is a relatively recent phenomenon. Actually, comics have been in libraries for decades, but their popularity has sky-rocketed within last decade, and especially within the last few years. They are now some of the most circulating items in many libraries. They have found a secure home on the shelves in many libraries and in the hands of many library patrons. You can help establish them in more libraries by nominating a title to YALSA, but even more so by donating or purchasing them for or recommending them to your local library.

You may have noticed that these lists are teen specific. Interestingly, adults in their 20s and 30s are the most common readers of comics and graphic novels. Hopefully soon, we will see recommended lists for adults (and pre-teens) from the TLA and the ALA.

Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List

I thought that I would begin this blog with a post about Texas libraries and comics since I am from the Lone Star State. I recognize that many of you are not from the former territory of two European empires, former territory of Mexico, former independent republic, former state of the C.S.A., and the 28th state of the U.S.A., and I recognize that Texans like to talk about all things Texas. I especially understand that Texas pride can get quite annoying after about two seconds. I promise that this blog will not do that for the most part. I just ask that you bear with me on this first proud post.

The Texas Library Association (TLA) includes a round table called the Young Adult Round Table (YART) whose purpose is to "promote and to improve library services for young adults in Texas." One way that YART accomplishes this purpose is through their Maverick Graphic Novels Committee. The Maverick Committee compiles a Graphic Novels Reading List, selected from solicited recommendations. "The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current books ... [and] is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum." The new committee is chaired by a librarian at the Denton (TX) Public Library and a good friend, WyLaina Hildreth. She is a fellow traveler in all things comics and all things libraries. 2010 marked the first year of their annual reading list.

If you would like to sugguest a title for the Maverick Committee to review for 2011, click here.