Comic Book Collections for Libraries

This book will help librarians extend literary graphic novel collections to attract a large, untapped group of comic book readers with a sure-to-be-popular comic book collection.

Do comic books belong in libraries? Absolutely-as Comic Book Collections for Libraries makes very clear. This illustrated guide defines the role of comic books in the modern library, provides a thorough grounding in the subject for beginners, and suggests new ideas for those already familiar with these perennial reader favorites.

The book begins by introducing the structure of the comic book, industry players, and genres. The bulk of the guide, however, is comprised of actionable advice on such things as creating and maintaining the collection, cataloging for effective access, and promoting the collection, including how to feature comics with other library materials, such as movies and games. Drawing on the authors’ experience, the volume answers numerous other questions as well. How can you tell which titles are age-appropriate for your library? Which titles are popular? How do you include characters that will appeal to diverse reader groups? Complete with checklists and a rich array of examples, this easy-to-use work can make every librarian a superhero.

60 A-Z entries on the comic book industry, publishers, and creators

Helpful lists of recommended comic book titles, many of which are not usually found in libraries

Numerous tables, comic book images, and illustrations

A glossary of comic book-specific terms

A title list actually used to begin a comic book collection at James Madison University

Bibliographies for each chapter, plus a list of more than 50 web resources