Comic Book Collections for Libraries

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. This 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, this volume answers numerous other questions as well. How can you tell which titles are age-appropriate for your library? Which titles are popular? And 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.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Stan Sakai Acknowledgments 1. Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Popular Culture A Brief History of Comic Books Medium or Genre? The Value of Comic Books Libraries, Comic Books, and Graphic Novels Conclusion Notes References 2. The Structure of the Comic Book Titles Issues Volumes Arcs/Crossovers Continuity Conclusion Notes References 3. The Players Publishers Archie Big Two Dark Horse Comics DC Fantagraphics IDW Image Marvel Tokyopop Viz Media Creators (Writers, Artists, Editors) Adams, Neal (Artist) Barks, Carl (Writer, Artist) Bendis, Brian Michael (Writer, Artist) Brubaker, Ed (Writer) Byrne, John (Writer, Artist) Claremont, Chris (Writer) Eisner, Will (Writer, Artist) Ellis, Warren (Writer) Ennis, Garth (Writer) Gaiman, Neil (Writer) Johns, Geoff (Writer) Kirby, Jack (Artist, Writer) Kubert, Joe (Artist) Lee, Jim (Writer, Artist, Editor) Lee, Stan (Writer, Editor) McFarlane, Todd (Writer, Artist) Mignola, Mike (Writer, Artist) Millar, Mark (Writer) Miller, Frank (Writer, Artist) Moore, Alan (Writer) Morrison, Grant (Writer) Perez, George (Artist, Writer) Quesada, Joe (Artist, Editor) Romita, John, Jr. (Artist) Romita, John, Sr. (Artist) Ross, Alex (Artist) Sakai, Stan (Writer, Artist) Schwartz, Julius (Editor) Shooter, Jim (Writer, Editor) Sim, Dave (Writer, Artist) Takahashi, Rumiko (Writer, Artist) Tezuka, Osamu (Writer, Artist) Waid, Mark (Writer) Weisinger, Mort (Editor) Other Industry Terms and Organizations Artist Breakdowns Bronze Age Colorist Comics Code Authority Creator Creator-Owned Diamond Comic Distributors Direct Market Editor Golden Age Inker Letterer Modern Age Penciler Plotter Scripter Silver Age Work for Hire Writer Conclusion Notes References 4. Genres Superheroes Manga Romance Westerns Horror Crime Science Fiction Fantasy Nonfiction Alternative War Licensed Comics Children's Comics Conclusion Notes References 5. Creating and Maintaining a Core Comic Book Collection Formats for Library Collections Where to Buy Comic Books Binding Considerations for Comics Determining Age Appropriateness and Creating Selection Guidelines Policies for Comic Books Funding for a Comic Book Collection Monitoring and Maintaining the Collection Conclusion Notes References 6. Cataloging Monographs, Serials, or Both? Title Access Notes Fields Subject and Title Headings Main Entry/Cuttering Cataloging Examples Example #1: Essential Spider-Woman, vol. 1 Example #2: Birds of Prey: The Battle Within Collection Location Conclusion Notes References 7. An Effective Collection: Guidelines for Promotion Public Relations, Promotion, and Advertising Developing Messages about the Collection Physical Location and Display Promotional Displays Inside and Outside the Library Building a Community around Comic Books Events to Promote the Collection Communications about the Collection Promoting the Collection on the Library Web Site Using Library Newsletters and Other Publications Using Press Releases Using Surveys and Polls to Promote and Build the Collection New Media for Promotion Sharing with Other Professionals Specific Promotion Techniques for School Librarians Marketing the Comic Book Collection to Women Conclusion Note References Recommended Readings 8. Comics in Other Parts of the Library Films Television Using the Audiovisual Collection Traditional Games Role-Playing Games Video Games Miniatures Games Games Days/Nights Conclusion Notes References 9. Web Resources Publishers Comics News Sales Reviews Lists of Collected Editions and Their Contents Age-Appropriate Material Women in Comics Conclusion Notes References Glossary Appendix A: Initial Graphic Title List and Inclusion Criteria Appendix B: Comic Book Characters and Their Titles Appendix C: Further Readings on Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga, and Anime Index

About the Author :
Bryan D. Fagan is a freelance writer. He has an MLS degree from the University of Maryland. Jody Condit Fagan is associate professor and content interfaces coordinator at James Madison University Libraries and Educational Technologies in Harrisonburg, VA. Fagan has written numerous peer-reviewed articles. Her first book, Web Project Management for Academic Libraries with Jennifer A. Keach, was published in 2009. Together, Bryan and Jody Fagan created and now maintain a popular comic book collection at James Madison University.

Review :
This thorough guide focuses on creating a core collection for adults, though much of it will also be useful for youth librarians. . . . Armed with this book, librarians should feel confident about knowledgeably creating and maintaining a successful comic-book collection. A highly useful and highly recommended read for any librarian who wants to create greater interest in their facility.