TO: PARMLY BILLINGS LIBRARY BOARD

FROM: BILL COCHRAN, LIBRARY DIRECTOR DEE ANN REDMAN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

RE: STATEMENT OF CONCERN ABOUT NEIL GAIMAN POSTER

MEETING DATE: MAY 10, 2012

Attached is a “Statement of Concern About Library Resources” submitted by Jill Jensen.

STATEMENT REQUEST

Ms. Jensen has objected to the display of this poster that hangs above the circulation desk as her children found it too scary. She asks that the poster be taken down.

BACKGROUND

Neil Gaiman is a very popular British author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels and films for both children and adults. His notable works include novels Stardust, American Gods, Anansi Boys and Coraline. Gaiman's writing has won numerous awards, including the Hugo, and the Nebula. He is the first author to win both the Newbery and the Carnegie medals for the same work, 2009’s The Graveyard Book. The comic book series The Sandman won the only World Fantasy Award ever given to a comic book.

This poster was developed from The Sandman series, described by the LA Times as “the greatest epic in the history of comics.” This poster was produced by the American Library Association. In 2007, Gaiman was the keynote speaker at the Montana Library Association conference. This poster was autographed to the Library by him during that visit. The poster depicts the character in a book-filled room, holding one book, with others flying up and out a window. In the window is written: “A book is a dream that you hold in your hands.” At the bottom of the poster is the tagline: “Explore Your Dreams @ Your Library” and “Neil Gaiman’s Sandman”.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

The character of the Sandman appears dark and mysterious, but the image is not menacing. Ms. Jensen’s children found it scary, but others have delighted in the image. Many fans of Gaiman’s work have been excited to see it inscribed to their hometown Library, an inscription that is difficult to read from a distance. While it does hang over one side of the circulation desk, one can still check out materials at the other side or from the self-check; customers are not limited to coming to this service point.

Staff recommends that the Board take no action. The Board may wish to consider an alternative of relocating the poster to another location within the Library.