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