FSG bw page cvr2 The official journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association

VOLUME 3 NUMBER 4 SUMMER 2005 ISSN 1541-4302

CONTENTS

FROM THE EDITOR 17 The Okatu’s View on Manga INTERNATIONAL 2 Christina Cuchinotta PERSPECTIVE 18 Manga Madness in 39 Adult Graphic Novels Readers COLUMNS the Library A Survey in a Angie Espelage Montréal Library 4 Perspectives on YA Practice Olivier Charbonneau Common YA Models of Service in Public Libraries: SCHOOL/PUBLIC 43 Teenage Reluctant Readers Advantages and Disadvantages LIBRARY and Graphic Novels Mary K. Chelton PERSPECTIVE Clare Snowball 7 The Frances Henne/YALSA/ 19 Holy Reading Revolution, 46 ¿Es Un Pájaro? ¿Es Un Avión? VOYA Research Grant Batman! . . . ¡Es Supermán! Planning, Nurturing and Developing a Graphic Novel Spanish Comics for Growing the Field of Young Collection for Young Adults American Libraries Adult Research Alison Ching Lucia Cedeira Serantes Bridgid Fennell 22 Y Archive? 10 Research Resources The Rapid Rise of Graphic THE UPDATE for Librarians Novels and Their Place in the Research Committee Column Cleveland Public Library 49 Jami L. Jones Rollie Welch and INDEX TO Julianne Brown ADVERTISERS PUBLISHER/AUTHOR 25 Who Is Reading Manga? 45 PERSPECTIVE One High School’s Story 12 Bone and Scholastic Graphix Melissa Bergin An Interview with Jeff 27 Japan Comes to Elizabeth, Smith and Jean Feiwel New Jersey (with John Mason) A Week of Japanese Katherine Kan Entertainment for Teens 14 OUCH! Kimberly Paone About the Cover An Interview with Papercutz Attract teen and ’tween readers with 30 I Got Graphic! manga favorite Megatokyo®, cre- publisher Terry Nantier Using Visual Literature Works! Jana Fine ated by Fred Gallagher and Rodney Jodi Leckbee Caston. Original artwork provided by 32 Get Animated Gallagher with thanks to Dark Horse TEEN PERSPECTIVE @ your library® Books. Available at www.alastore.ala. 16 Graphic Generation Kristin Fletcher-Spear and org or call 1-866-746-7252. Chris Fallis Merideth Jenson-Benjamin FROM THE EDITOR

he other day, I was in my teen room sitting at the service desk. A young woman entered, YALSA Publications Committee (performing referee duties and providing advisory input for the journal) cautiously looking around try- Donald Kenney, Chair, Blacksburg, Virginia Lauren Adams, Newton, Massachusetts ing to scope out something Julie Bartel, Salt Lake City, Utah Tspecific. Sadly, she turned and was about Sophie R. Brookover, Voorhees, New Jersey Jeanette C. Larson, Austin, Texas to leave when I asked if I could help. She Cassie H. Wilson, St. Marys, Ohio looked down and mumbled something about manga. I walked her over to the Executive Director graphic novel section (kept only in the teen Beth Yoke room) and asked if this was what she was interested in. Well, it Division Coordinator was as if the sun suddenly rose in the sky, complete with birds Esther Murphy singing and flowers blooming. She turned to me and as if in a wonderful dream, she whispered, “Oh, yes!” She spent about Editor Jana Fine thirty minutes or so perusing our collection and finally decided Circulation on about twenty manga and anime titles. I have never seen Young Adult Library Services (ISSN 1541-4302) is published four times a year by the American Library Association (ALA), 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. It is the official a more contented look in a teen’s face than that young girl’s publication of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. when she left. It brought to mind my recollections of adoles- Subscription price: members of YALSA, $20 per year, included in membership dues; nonmembers, $40 per year in the U.S.; $50 in Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Back cence. Having a crush on Scotty from Star Trek (the original issues within one year of current issue, $12 each. Periodical postage paid at Chicago, series), wearing dresses made from paper (a fad that didn’t Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Young Adult Library Services, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Members: Address changes and last too long!), and watching and listening to the Beatles (Paul inquiries should be sent to Membership Department, Changes to Young Adult Library Services, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Nonmember subscribers: Subscriptions, was my favorite at the time) have been indelibly etched in my orders, changes of address, and inquiries should be sent to Changes to Young Adult brain. And reading comics such as Archie, Superman, and the Library Services, Subscriptions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; 1-800-545-2433, press Fantastic Four (I really liked and connected to the Thing). It’s 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; [email protected]. interesting to note that that young woman and I will share a Statement of Purpose common memory—reading comics. Young Adult Library Services is the official journal of the Young Adult Library Services As you peruse the many and fascinating articles on graphic Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. YALS primarily serves as a vehicle for continuing education for librarians serving young adults, ages 12 novels and their rise in popularity, think back to what you might through 18. It will include articles of current interest to the profession, act as a showcase have read as a ’tween. I think that we all can connect to that for best practices, provide news from related fields, and will spotlight significant events of the organization and offer in-depth reviews of professional literature. YALS will also serve moment in time when our visual landscapes included precursors as the official record of the organization. of graphic novels. And that is our bridge to our teen clientele. From traditional comics to specialized manga titles, the wealth Production of graphic novels in many forms is a constant for today’s youth. ALA Production Services—Troy D. Linker, Angela Hanshaw; Stephanie Kuenn, Kristen McKulski, Karen Sheets, and Christine Velez, Production Editors. And it seems that, as quirky as this may sound, graphic novels seem to embody the basic elements of YALSA’s strategic plan— Advertising The Goldman Group, 14497 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., #205N, Tampa, FL 33618. (813) 264- advocacy, marketing, and research. Advocacy—because librarians 2772; [email protected]. YALS accepts advertising for goods or services of interest to the library profession and librarians in service to youth in particular. It encourages advertis- purchase and defend their place on the stacks. Marketing—many ing that informs readers and provides clear communication between vendor and buyer. librarians plan programs and lesson plans around anime and YALS adheres to ethical and commonly accepted advertising practices and reserves the right to reject any advertisement not suited to the above purposes or not consistent with manga. Research—public and school staff formulate questions the aims and policies of ALA. Acceptance of advertising in YALS does not imply official for their teen clientele and students in an effort to find out what endorsement by ALA of the products or services advertised. kind of graphic novels they want. Manuscripts This issue is devoted to the graphic novel—in all of its Manuscripts and letters pertaining to editorial content should be sent to YALSA, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; e-mail: [email protected]. Manuscripts will be sent out for varieties, as well as two new columns: Perspectives on YA review according to YALS’s established referee procedures. Visit www.ala.org/yalsa for Practice by Mary K. Chelton and a research column by YALSA’s further information.

Research Committee. Indexing, Abstracting, and Microfilm I hope you have enjoyed the beginning voyage we have Young Adult Library Services is indexed in Library Literature, Library & Information Science Abstracts, and Current Index to Journals in Education. Microfilm copies of Journal of Youth undertaken together in establishing YALS as the official journal Services in Libraries and its predecessor, Top of the News, are available from ProQuest/Bell of YALSA. I have enjoyed my editorship immensely. But as of this & Howell, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. issue, I will take my leave and let another capable captain steer The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American the ship into exciting new areas of YA librarianship. Thank you National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ∞ all for your support and friendship throughout my tenure. I look © 2005 American Library Association forward to seeing everyone at Annual Conference as well as work- All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advance- ing with our talented members on new projects and activities. ment granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other photocopying, reprinting, or translating, address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and continued on page 15 Permissions.

2 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS Harcourt bw page 3 COLUMN Perspectives on YA Practice Common YA Models of Service in Public Libraries: Advantages and Disadvantages Mary K. Chelton

It would be wonderful to have Deserve the Best should influence the title, which, in turn, was related to the a separate YA space and a YA choices, but they often only come into size of those libraries as measured by the librarian, but we haven’t the play later when initial choices are reex- number of patrons per week. The larg- space or the personnel budget. amined or reconfigured.1 For this article, est libraries, those with one thousand or And so we function in the library “service model” refers to the unique local more patrons a week, in other words, had that we have, rather than the configuration of staff, position titles, ser- specialist YA positions, but most public library that we would like to have vice delivery area, collection, and services libraries are not large, and the lack of a . . .—Recent post on YALSA-BK set up for young adults. YA specialist position is more normal I don’t expect to solve arguments than not. Unfortunately, while there have aving worked at a vari- over the choices here, only to make the been more recent surveys, there has been ety of levels in several pros and cons evident so the choices can nothing specific enough in its breakdown individual libraries and be better informed. I find the current of position titles to see if anything has library systems, I have intense interest in YA space planning fas- changed since 1988. This distribution of come to the conclusion cinating because I rarely see any attention position titles may still be the same, and that there is no one perfect way to deliver H to service model choices in those articles whether it should be considered ideal in services to the young adult group in pub- or pictures; yet, it would seem logical that terms of the goals of YA services overall, lic libraries, only options to be chosen the service model adopted should natu- or just inevitable because of library size, on the basis of a specific library’s service rally influence planning for teen spaces. is debatable. If one assumes, however, provision history; the library’s size in Basically, the choices among various ser- that this distribution is stable, it is obvi- terms of budget, staff, or user visits; the vice models need to address three ques- ous that some choices should be what to staff’s attitude toward service, particularly tions: (1) What kind of staff will do the call and where to place the librarian most YA services; and the library director’s work in what organizational category? responsible for YA services, and how that susceptibility to local or national trends. (2) What kind of services will be offered? person’s time should be allocated among Obviously the library’s mission, local (3) Assuming that reading promotion various service activities, such as planning young adults’ preferences, and national and adolescent literacy are among the and budgeting; collection development guidelines such as YALSA’s Young Adults services offered, what kind of collection and promotion; direct service to teens and are you developing, and where and how parents; services promotion; outreach to will it be housed or accessed? schools, community youth workers, and Mary K. Chelton, a cofounder of VOYA, youth-serving organizations; and profes- is a professor in the Graduate School Staff sional development. If the person’s time is of Library and Information Studies, split among age groups or functions—for Queens College, City University of New York. Her dissertation on YA services When service models were last surveyed example, reference and YA, or audiovisual is entitled Adult-Adolescent Service nationally, position titles of librarians services and YA, or youth services for both Encounters: The Library Context serving youth were distributed among children and adolescents—time allocation (1997). She is the editor of three edi- the categories and percentages shown in will have to be even more finely planned. tions of Excellence in Library Services table 1.2 In the absence of such planning, the des- for Young Adults for the Young Adult Library Services Association of ALA. This distribution is very similar to ignated person can become the public Among her many articles on library and the same survey conducted in 1988; how- library analog to a substitute in schools, YA Services is “The Problem Patron ever, it should be noted that more than pulled onto some other service desk That Public Libraries Created: The half of the libraries responding to the or activity whenever there is a position Normal Adolescent,” The Reference survey had only one or two librarians on vacancy emergency or a perceived need. Librarian, nos. 75 and 76 (June 2002): 23–33. staff. Eleven percent of all public librar- Table 2 summarizes some pros and ies had the specific young adult specialist cons of various staffing configuration

4 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS CHELTON COMMON YA MODELS OF SERVICE choices.3 The implications of what the puter terminals exclusively for users of magazines and displaying them face-out YA-serving librarian is called have most that space and links to those resources to maximize cover appeal, given their to do with the degree of focused atten- on the TC Web site.4 While the evalu- enormous popularity with teenagers. tion on the primary young adult clientele, ation, licensing, and management of Even if there is a separate YA specialist the depth of professional knowledge online databases is an ongoing decision- and department, though, problems can about this clientele, and the time allo- making and budgeting issue in terms of arise such as those discussed regularly cated toward various other clienteles or public service space, it also means space on GNLIB-L concerning where to place activities. If the distributions of the 1994 planning for terminals in the library and potentially controversial graphic nov- national survey are still true, this may well for off-site access policies. els within the library to avoid political be a discussion needed in all public librar- The physical, more personal interest problems.5 If the YA-serving librarian ies because specialized YA positions are so collection may present problems because is part of a Youth Services Department rare and are related to library size, but it is of the way it is acquired and housed. encompassing young children, nobody a discussion that should be informed and Current wisdom would suggest buying will be happy intershelving real YA- part of YA services planning. as many graphic novels, paperbacks, and interest titles. Intershelving can lead to

Space Table 1. Percentage by Position Title In Public Libraries, 1994 % Public Service % Children’s % Young Adult % Youth Services Service Desk Librarian Librarian Librarian Librarian A succession of YA space planning mod- 25 40 11 24 els have appeared in the column “YA Spaces of Your Dreams” in Voice of Youth Table 2. Models of Service for Young Adults by Organizational Advocates for several years now, and Departmentalization: Pros and Cons Teen Spaces: The Step-by-Step Library Models Pros Cons Makeover by Kimberly Bolan Taney is available from ALA Editions for help Separate position/ Better ability to focus on primary Marginalization from other staff. in planning. One of the issues I rarely department. clientele. Stigma of clientele attached. see covered in any depth, though, is the Better advocacy for primary No responsibility for YAs taken in configuration of the service desk. A desk clientele. is important because it symbolizes the other departments. More intervention and place where service may be expected on Less interest in reference, interpersonal concern for YAs. site. Table 3 gives a list of pros and cons especially information literacy for different desk configurations com- Better understanding of YA instruction. mon in public libraries. interests and materials. None of the cons of these desk configurations are inevitable, given good administrative oversight, training, inter- Part of Youth Services Developmental cohesion and Marginalization from other staff. flexibility. personal communication, and respect Stigma of clientele attached. among staff, but they are common. More intervention and No responsibility for YAs taken in interpersonal concern for YAs. other departments. Collection Better understanding of YA Less interest in reference, interests and materials. The access-versus-ownership debate especially information literacy about information materials, with all instruction. its attendant problems, such as which Time split with young children. format and whether to purchase materi- als or access them on the Web, applies to the information-seeking collection Part of Adult Services More status. Ignorance of YA interests and in YA services too. Licensed, full-text materials. More interest in reference. online databases accessible in the library Competition with children’s over or at home are obviously preferable to YA materials. young adults than print resources for imposed school-related queries. It is not Loss of interpersonal emphasis. accidental that Teen Central (TC) in the Competition with other adult Phoenix Public Library has twenty com- services priorities.

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 5 COMMON YA MODELS OF SERVICE CHELTON libraries with Junior High collections Table 3. Models of Service by Service Desk Configuration: Pros and Cons in the children’s or youth services space Models Pros Cons and YA collections outside that space, a distinction that may well be lost on the Separate age-level Better focus and attention on YA users bounced from desk to public regardless of the controversies the service desk primary clientele. desk with bad referrals. librarians feel they are avoiding. The pros and cons of various collec- More consistent service Understaffing to cover other expertises. desks. tion housing configurations appears in table 4. Marginalization from other staff. Interfiling YA-interest titles in the adult collection can render them invis- ible to the public and staff unless there Single service Everyone expected to serve all age Specialist often drawn away from desk/library with groups. helping YAs to help other ages is a major readers advisory effort to list, specialists on staff and needs. display, and booktalk these titles. Some Acknowledged in-house expertise public libraries avoid this by having a of specialists available. Non-YA specialists have no incentive to learn about YA needs separate YA collection, usually limited to Better interaction with rest of and interests. fiction, even though they do not have a public service staff. separate specialist staff. Without attention Resistance from colleagues to though, such collections quickly become specialist advice. unattended organizational anomalies, Less consistent service expertise. and all the research on boys and reading and their attraction to nonfiction makes this approach extremely discriminatory Single service desk/ Everyone expected to serve all age Specialty knowledge only gained and feminized.6 library with only groups by personal preference in absence Ideally there would be a lively sepa- generalists on staff of other incentives. rate popular interest multimedia collec- Young adults may not be the age tion for young adults, but many public group given priority. libraries do not have money for heavy duplication, they are print-biased by Less consistent service expertise. tradition, or they only budget by format rather than audience, so that the persons Table 4. Pros and Cons of Various Print Collection Housing Options in charge of buying audio books or maga- Models Pros Cons zines may not be those buying paperbacks and graphic novels. This way of purchas- Interfiled in youth Near designated service specialist. Political problems because of ing leads to philosophical and coordina- services accessibility by young children. tion problems about who should get what, Takes wide developmental range when, and under whose authority. of early adolescents into account. Purchasing authority and budgets may need excessive coordination. Conclusion Interfiled in adult Fewer political problems because Materials become invisible if not None of these service models makes of location. promoted outside housing. good services for young adults insur- mountable, given leadership, patience, Easily available to others as well Purchasing authority and budgets and communication, although some as to YAs. may need excessive coordination. simply may not be affordable. They do imply choices that may not be immedi- Separate young adult Focused on interests of YAs. Cost of duplication, if any. ately visible, however, so this article has with specialist been just a small attempt to make the Political problems if controversial materials included. effects of such choices visible. No choice has to be irrevocable, though, and the variety of models available offers many history of how things are done should in particular, toward young adults, as possibilities if chosen wisely with the always take a back seat to the informa- many big city libraries such as those interests of young adults as the main tion needs of young adults. One thing in Houston, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, objective. The comfort of individual we do know, though, is that when Columbus, and Cincinnati have recently library staff and a particular library’s libraries do dedicate resources, staff continued on page 11

6 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS COLUMN The Frances Henne/YALSA/ VOYA Research Grant Planting, Nurturing, and Growing the Field of Young Adult Research Bridgid Fennell

ibrary service to teens is a community, deans, and other funding grant, and in 1998 the guidelines were flourishing organic move- providers are reminded of the necessity revised to include student members ment sprouting up in libraries of teen services by a comprehensive body conducting research leading to a degree.6 across the country. Research of literature. Lastly, research stimulates Following the death of Frances Henne, a on teens and library use dialogue within the profession and poses leading scholar of youth library services, Lenriches the scholarship of the profes- new questions, challenges assumptions, Dorothy Broderick lobbied the YASD sion and reinforces the critical need for and illuminates new directions. board to rename the grant in her honor young adult services. The Frances Henne/ at the 1986 Midwinter Meeting.7 YALSA/VOYA Research Grant enables YALSA members to engage in action The Frances Henne/ Befitting Tribute to Henne research and formulate new models of YALSA/VOYA Research service to teens. Grant: Planting the Seed A native of Springfield, Illinois, Frances The teen population in the United Henne (1906–1985) earned her bachelor’s States is experiencing a boom. As pub- Scholars have experienced challenges and master’s degrees in English at the lic and school libraries respond with finding funding and interest for their University of Illinois in 1929 and 1936, emerging and evolving service plans, work in youth services among general respectively. Henne’s relationship with the research into the information needs library scholars. In her early foray into Columbia University began in 1935 when and use patterns of teens guides plan- academia, Mary K. Chelton lamented, she enrolled in the bachelor’s program in ning. Regrettably, teens continue to be “We need to buy ourselves an academic librarianship. She was an instructor and overlooked by most library systems, and if we want anything done.”2 Dorothy school librarian at the New York State many school districts weaken media Broderick, with whom she cofounded College for Teachers from 1937 to 1939 centers and library instruction due to VOYA, suggested the creation of a mod- but returned to Illinois when she became cost-cutting measures. Carol Doll, past est research grant “to give seed money for an instructor at the University of Chicago recipient of the Frances Henne/YALSA/ small projects.”3 The Young Adult Services Graduate Library School (GLS) and head VOYA Research Grant, reinforces the Division (YASD) was approached to of the University High School Library. She necessity for research in this field. “Young administer the grant of five hundred was an assistant professor from 1946–1950 adult services in libraries have not dollars, and in 1982 the YASD board and the acting dean from 1951–1952. Her received the respect they deserve. There approved the grant and requested of the legacy to GLS included being the first is an acceptance of the need and value YASD Research Committee to design woman faculty member and founding of children’s library services, but the application criteria and administer the the Center for Children’s Books and The same is not true for young adult services. grant.4 The Research Committee defined Bulletin, a review journal for children’s and Research is one way to document the the purpose of the grant “to provide seed young adult materials. It was during this value of those services.”1 Better under- money for small scale projects which will standing of contemporary teens and their encourage significant research that will relationship with libraries informs best have an influence on library service to Bridgid Fennell has been the teen and 5 practices and sets benchmarks for quality young adults.” YASD membership was reference librarian at the Glendale service. Furthermore, research identi- an eligibility requirement, and the grant Public Library in Southern California fies deficiencies and suggests remedies, was originally available only to quali- since Fall 2003. She is currently a demonstrating the need for increased fied researchers. Consequently, the early member of the YALSA Research and YALSA Selected DVDs and Videos com- support through funding and specialized recipients were library scholars. However, mittees, and an SUS Trainer. staffing. Our colleagues, administrators, practitioners soon took advantage of the

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 7 THE FRANCES HENNE/YALSA/VOYA RESEARCH GRANT FENNELL

She continued to lead the development of school library guidelines for the next twenty-five years and lectured on children’s and young adult services at Columbia until 1975 when she retired as professor emeritus.

Research Taking Root

VOYA and YALSA pay no better tribute to Henne than sponsoring research projects in her honor. The Frances Henne/YALSA/ VOYA Research Grant recipients probe young adult services with an array of research questions and topics, and their findings are often reported in Young Adult Library Services (formerly the Journal of Youth Services). These research projects challenge assumptions of teen library use and break the mold of traditional library services. Indeed, some of the grant recipi- ents have reported findings in articles that have grown into fundamental works of the profession (see figure 1). The grant money has funded research ingenuity by supporting data analysis, travel expenses, materials sup- port, and employing youth participation in the research process.

Future Directions

YALSA members are encouraged to apply for the Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant to conduct and share their own action research. The deadline for proposals for the next grant cycle is December 1, 2005, and the winner will be selected at Midwinter 2006. Currently funds of up to five hundred dollars sup- port the winning research proposal. Interested applicants should refer to the grant website for application procedures at www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/ awardsandgrants/franceshenne.htm. In the growing field of research of period that Henne co-authored with Ruth University. Her work Standards for young adult library services, many ques- Ersted and Alice Lohrer A Planning Guide School Library Programs, published in tions remain unanswered. The YALSA for the High School Library Program, a doc- 1960 by ALA, advocated for the restruc- Research Agenda identifies access, demo- ument that outlined the need for planning turing of school media programs to graphics, evaluation, information seek- and evaluation of services and materials in student-centered facilities that attended ing, interdisciplinary issues, technology the school library.8 to the learning needs of individuals.9 and history as key areas of young adult In 1954, Henne returned to New Henne was awarded the Lippincott research.10 Some possible research agen- York and joined the faculty of Columbia Award for this seminal work in 1963. das might include:

8 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS FENNELL THE FRANCES HENNE/YALSA/VOYA RESEARCH GRANT

1985 Shirley Fitzgibbons—“An Investigation of Reference and Information Service for Young “Gale Contemporary Authors Online.” Frances Adults and Children in Public Libraries” E. Henne. 1998. Accessed Feb. 26, 2005, 1987 Patsy Perritt—“An Investigation to Learn Information Sources of Pregnant Teens before http://galenet.galegroup.com. They became Pregnant” “Henne/VOYA Grant Guidelines Revised.” 1990 Lesley Farmer—“Research Strategies of Young Adults” American Libraries 29, no. 4 (1998): 7. Marilyn K. Maynard—ILLINET (Illinois School Library Media Association) Project Jones, Patrick. “Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Survey Research Grant 2001.” Grant proposal, 1992 Joan Lynn Atkinson —“Censorship in Young Adult Fiction” 2001. 1994 Kathy Latrobe and W. Michael Havener—“Information Seeking Behavior of High Kester, Diane D., and Plummer Alston Jones School Honors Students” Jr. “Frances Henne and The Development 1996 Evie Wilson-Lingbloom, Carol Doll and Barbara Carmody—“Storytelling Teenage of School Library Standards.” Library Folklore, an experiment in building self-esteem with American oral-tradition” Trends 52, no. 4 (2004): 952–62. 1999 Sheila Anderson and John Bradford—“State-Level Commitment to Young Adult Latrobe, Kathy, and W. Michael Havener. Services” “Information Seeking Behavior of High 2000 K. Bishop and Patricia K. Bauer—“Attracting Young Adults to Public Libraries” School Honors Students: An Exploratory 2001 Patrick Jones—“Buyer Beware: Investigating the Quality of Customer Service to Young Study.” Journal of Youth Services in Librar- Adults in a Major Urban Public Library” ies (1997): 188–200. 2002 Teri Lesesne—“Project H.E.A.R: Help Encourage At-Risk Readers” Wilson, Evie Lingbloom, Carol Doll, and Bar- 2003 Kelley McDaniel—“Giving Them What They Want: A Browser-Friendly Fiction bara Carmody. “Frances Henne/YALSA/ Collection Organized by Genre” VOYA Research Grant: Grant Applica- 2004 Amy Alessio and Nick Buron—“Measuring the Impact of New and Long Term Young tion.” Grant proposal, 1995. Adult Services” Young Adult Library Services Association. Figure 1. Grant Recipients “Handbook: YALSA Research Agenda.” Accessed Feb. 28, 2005, www.ala.org/ala/ yalsa/aboutyalsa/yalsaresearch.htm. Young Adult Services Division. “YASD/VOYA ● developing models to evaluate out- you contribute to the field? How can the Research Grant.” Memorandum, n.d. comes-based services and highlight- Frances Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research ing successful programs; Grant support your inquiries into teens REFERENCES ● evaluating how various factors such and library use? ● 1. Carol Doll, e-mail to the author, Mar. 4, as library and information studies 2005. master’s programs, current events, 2. Mary K. Chelton, e-mail to the author, societal attitudes, and local commu- BIBLIOGRAPHY Mar. 4, 2005 Anderson, Sheila and John Bradford. “Frances 3. Pat Feehan, “The Frances Henne/YALSA/ nities impact the ethics and practices Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant.” VOYA Research Grant: Past, Present, of young adult library services; 1999. and Future,” Journal of Youth Services in ● surveying young adult spaces that are Bauer, Pat. Telephone conversation with Libraries (Winter 1997): 201. developmentally sensitive to teens’ author, Feb. 25, 2005. 4. Young Adult Services Division, “YASD/ needs; Bauer, Pat and Kay Bishop. “Frances Henne/ VOYA Research Grant,” memo, n.d. ● understanding how emerging tech- YALSA/VOYA Research Grant Applica- 5. “Henne/VOYA Grant Guidelines nologies such as the Internet, virtual tion.” Grant proposal, 2000. Revised,” American Libraries 29, no. 4 chat reference, and personal comput- Bishop, Kay and Pat Bauer. “Attracting Young (1998): 7. ing devices impact YA library services; Adults to Public Libraries/Frances 6. Chelton, e-mail; Feehan, “Henne/YALSA/ Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant VOYA.” ● evaluating the impact of youth par- ticipation in the cultivation of library Results.” Journal of Youth Services in 7. Diane D. Kester and Plummer Alston Libraries (2002): 36–44. Jones Jr., “Frances Henne and the Devel- services and youth development; Chelton, Mary K. E-mail to author, Mar. 4, opment of School Library Standards,” ● documenting the history of young 2005. Library Trends 52, no. 4 (2004): 955. adult services; Doll, Carol. e-mail to author, March 4, 2005. 8. Kester and Jones, “Frances Henne and ● exploring diversity issues and young Doll, Carol, et al. “Unleashing the Power of the Development of School Library Stan- adult library services; and Teenage Folklore: Research to Investi- dards,” 956. ● looking at how youth consumer gate the Power of Storytelling.” Journal 9. Frances Henne, Standards for School culture and marketing informs the of Youth Services in Libraries (2001): Library Programs (Chicago: ALA, 1960). design and promotion of library ser- 35–40. 10. Young Adult Library Services Asso- vices to teens. Feehan, Pat. “The Frances Henne/YALSA/ ciation, “YALSA Handbook: YALSA VOYA Research Grant: Past, Present, Research Agenda.” Accessed Feb. 28, 2005, What are your professional ques- and Future.” Journal of Youth Services in www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/aboutyalsa/ tions, and what ideas and findings can Libraries (1997): 201–06. yalsaresearch.htm.

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 9 COLUMN Research Resources for Librarians Research Committee Column Jami L. Jones

or many, it seems so arduous. Mertler, Craig A., and C. M. Charles. agenda, go to www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/ We wonder if the Herculean Introduction to Educational Research. awardsandgrants/franceshenne.htm. effort necessary to pull off a 5th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2005. Wong, Paul T. P. “How to Write a good research study is worth O’Leary, Zina. The Essential Guide To Research Proposal.” www.meaning. it. You bet it is! Whether you Doing Research. Thousand Oaks, ca/articles/writing_research_ are conducting it, reading about it, or Calif.: Sage, 2004. F proposal_may02.htm. applying its findings, research is an excit- Powell, Ronald R., and Lynn Silipigni ing way to invigorate your career while Connaway. Basic Research Methods making a substantial contribution to For Librarians. 4th ed. Westport, Research Design the profession. It’s an excellent way to Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, 2004. improve library service for the patrons we Sanders, Susan. How to Do Research in The books in this section describe cherish—children and young adults. The Your School. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: research designs that are quantitative and resources listed below will help librarians Sage, 2006. qualitative. Quantitative research relies on begin this journey. Walliman, Nicholas S. R. Your Research the collection of numerical data, which is Project: A Step-by-Step Guide for statistically analyzed. Qualitative research the First-Time Researcher. 2nd ed. relies primarily on the collection of narra- General Research Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2005. tive data, which is analyzed verbally. Some Resources research designs that combine the two are called mixed research methods. Action The books in this section provide an The Literature Review research is especially beneficial because it overview of the research process, which allows librarians to utilize research meth- The literature review, an important includes identifying a researchable ques- ods to reflect on and solve problems in part of the research process, helps the tion, conducting a literature search, their settings and communities. designing a research project and selecting researcher understand the problem by a methodology, gathering data, analyzing learning how others have tried to answer Coghlan, David, and Teresa Brannick. results, and publishing findings. similar research questions. Doing Action Research in Your Own Organization. 2nd ed. Thousand Fink, Arlene. Conducting Research Johnson, Burke, and Larry Christensen. Oaks, Calif.: Pine Forge, 2004. Literature Reviews: From the Internet Educational Research: Quantitative, Coolidge, Frederick L. Statistics: A Gentle to Paper. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches. Introduction. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Calif.: Sage, 2004. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2004. Sage, 2000. Onwuegbuzie, Anthony, Qun G. Jiao, and McEwan, Elaine E., and Patrick J. Cox, James. Your Opinion, Please! How To Sharon L. Bostick. Library Anxiety: McEwan. Making Sense of Research: Build the Best Questionnaires in the Theory, Research, and Applications. What’s Good, What’s Not, and How Field of Education. Thousand Oaks, Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow, 2004. To Tell the Difference. Thousand Calif.: Corwin, 1996. Oaks, Calif.: Corwin, 2003. Czaja, Ron, and Johnny Blair. Designing Writing the Proposal Surveys: A Guide to Decisions and Procedures. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, A well-written proposal helps to articu- Calif.: Sage, 2004. Jami L. Jones is assistant professor, late the research problem, its significance, Department of Library Science and Denzin, Norman K., and Yvonna S. Instructional Technology, East Carolina and the research design. A research pro- Lincoln, editors. Collecting and University, Greenville, N.C. Her interests posal is required to apply for the Frances Interpreting Qualitative Materials. 2nd are in the area of resiliency and ways Henne/YALSA/VOYA Research Grant, ed. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2003. libraries can strengthen youth. Jones which provides funds to conduct research Farmer, Lesley. How to Conduct Action is a member of YALSA’s Research pertaining to young adult library services. Committee. Research: A Guide for Library Media To learn more about YALSA’s research Specialists. Chicago: ALA, 2003.

10 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS JONES RESEARCH RESOURCES FOR LIBRARIANS

Fink, Arlene. How to Ask Survey Yin, Robert K. Case Study Research: decision makers concerned with the Questions. 2nd ed., The Survey Kit Design and Methods. 3d ed. development of school library media vol. 2. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage, 2003. programs and services. 2002. Voice of Youth Advocates at www. Fink, Arlene. How to Design Survey Publishing Findings voya.com addresses topics of interest for Studies. 2nd ed. , The Survey Kit vol. librarians, educators, and other profes- 6.Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2002. Once research has been conducted, an sionals who work with young adults. Howard, Jody K., and Su A. Eckhardt. important step is to make sure others Public Libraries at www.ala.org/ala/ Action Research: A Guide for Library know your findings. One of the best vehi- pla/plapubs/publiclibraries/publicli- Media Specialists. Worthington, cles to do this is to write an article to be braries.htm is the official journal of the Ohio: Linworth, 2005. published in a professional journal. Below Public Library Association. A priority Krueger, Richard A., and Mary Anne are resources and journals to consider. objective is to report on the findings of Casey. Focus Groups: A Practical School Libraries Worldwide at www. applied research useful to library man- Guide for Applied Research. 3d ed. iasl-slo.org/slw.html#information is the agement and staff. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2000. official professional and research journal Young Adult Library Services at Nardi, Peter M. Doing Survey Research: of the International Association of School www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsapubs/yals/ A Guide to Quantitative Research Librarianship. youngadultlibrary.htm is the official Methods. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, School Library Media Research at journal of the Young Adult Library 2003. www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsand- Services Association and presents best Sagor, Richard. The Action Research journals/slmrb/schoollibrary.htm is practices and current scholarly research Guidebook: A Four-Step Process the research journal of the American relating to young adult library services. for Educators and School Teams. Association of School Librarians. Children and Libraries at www.ala. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin, Knowledge Quest at www.ala.org/ org/ala/alsc/alscpubs/childrenlib/chil- 2004. ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/kqweb/ drenlibraries.htm is the official journal Sykes, Judith A. Action Research: A aboutkq/aboutkq.htm is devoted to of the Association of Library Services to Practical Guide for Transforming Your offering substantive information to Children and presents current scholarly School Library. Westport, Conn.: assist building-level library media spe- research pertaining to library service to Libraries Unlimited, 2002. cialists, supervisors, educators, and other children. ●

CHELTON COMMON YA MODELS OF SERVICE continued from page 6 Competencies for Librarians Serving Library System, Dec. 1, 1999. They have done, it works. Making YA work is the Youth, 2003. Accessed Apr. 7, 2005, been updated for this article. point of doing any of this, after all. ● www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/profdev/ 4. “Phoenix Teen Central.” Accessed Mar. Competencies.pdf. 13, 2005, www.phoenixteencentral.org/ 2. The table is from U.S. Department of tcwebapp/index.jsp. BIBLIOGRAPHY Education, National Center for Educa- 5. “GNLIB-L On the Web.” Accessed Mar. Voice of Youth Advocates. www.voya.com. tion Statistics, Fast Response Survey 13, 2005, www.angelfire.com/comics/ Bolan Taney, Kimberly. Teen Spaces: The Step- System (FRSS), Surveys of Library Services gnlib. by-Step Library Makeover. Chicago: ALA, for Children and Young Adults in Public 6. Patrick Jones and Dawn Cartwright Fio- 2003. Libraries, FRSS 47 (Washington, D.C.: relli, “Overcoming the Obstacle Course: GPO, 1994), 8, 10. Teenage Boys and Reading,” Teacher REFERENCES AND NOTES 3. Tables 2 and 3 were previously developed Librarian 30, no. 3. Accessed Mar. 13, 1. Young Adult Library Services Associa- as handouts for a staff development 2005, www.teacherlibrarian.com/tlmag/ tion, ed., Young Adults Deserve the Best: meeting at the Suffolk (N.Y.) Cooperative v_30/v_30_3_feature.html.

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 11 PUBLISHER/AUTHOR PERSPECTIVE Bone and Scholastic Graphix An Interview with Jeff Smith and Jean Feiwel (with John Mason) Katharine Kan

cholastic’s new imprint, anyone reading this who still doesn’t hundred fifty pages that are different, and Graphix, is publishing graphic know what Bone is, it’s an epic adventure a number of other smaller changes. Also, novels for ages eight through of three cousins who get lost in a lush the color makes it very different. eighteen, and their very first valley that is threatened by a sinister title is a full-color version of hooded figure aided by a horde of huge Jean: We’re introducing the story to a new SBone by Jeff Smith. Bone #1: Out from rat creatures; it’s been described as Pogo audience who may never have heard of Boneville was published in February meets The Lord of the Rings, which is Bone before. 2005, and they are planning to release quite apt. Jeff has said that Bone stands the subsequent volumes every six alone, and there will be no sequels. He Jeff: Also, some people will only buy color months. Bone #2: The Great Cow Race has collaborated with a couple of dif- comics. At one of my signings, a man will be published in August 2005. I had ferent creators to write books set in the came up. He had refused to buy Bone the opportunity to speak with Jeff Smith, world of Bone. in black and white, but he bought the the creator of Bone, and Jean Feiwel, color volume, had me sign it, and said he senior vice president and editor-in-chief Kat: You’ve done Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails couldn’t wait to get home and read it. of Scholastic, in a conference call, about with Tom Sniegoski as the writer, and Bone and Graphix. Rose with Charles Vess as the illustrator. Kat: Jeff, in the interview you did with Jeff had first published Bone with Do you anticipate doing any more col- Publishers Weekly, you said that you didn’t his own company Cartoon Books. The laborations with other creators for Bone set out to write Bone for children. Who story first appeared in comic book form, stories? was the audience in your mind while you and took fifty-five issues to tell the were writing it? complete story. He collected them into Jeff: I worked with these two because nine volumes of trade paperbacks (and I wanted to work with them. I’d do Jeff: First answer, I was just writing for some hardcovers), then last year pub- another if I find someone I really want to myself. The second answer: When I was lished a compendium volume of more work with. I’m thinking of maybe doing nine, I wanted to read a really long comic than thirteen hundred pages—both in another Rose story with Charles. book story; I wanted Uncle Scrooge and trade paperback and in a collector’s edi- Donald Duck in a Moby Dick-type long tion hardcover. Except for a few issues Kat: Jeff and Jean, in your 2004 Comic- story, but there weren’t any. The book as in Disney Adventure magazine, which Con discussion panel, you mentioned it exists now, at thirteen hundred pages, is serialized the first few issues of the story, there would be additional scenes in the what I wanted to read at age nine. Bone has always been in black and white, Graphix editions of Bone. Many libraries until the Graphix editions, which are in already own the Cartoon Books editions. Jean: Some of the best books for children full color. Jeff took twelve years to write Should they feel the need to purchase the weren’t originally written for children. the complete series of Bone. If there’s Graphix editions in order to get these additional pages of story? Kat: My sons both discovered Bone when they were about ten years old, and they Kat Kan has been an avid reader since Jeff and Jean: [Both] Yes! [laughter] each fell in love with the story. My own she was four years old. She worked in thoughts are that ten is about the perfect public libraries in Hawaii and Indiana as a children’s librarian and as a Jeff: Once I finished the story and started age to begin to appreciate Bone. young adult librarian for almost twenty to talk with Jean about the new editions, years. Now she uses her experience I had the chance to read everything Jeff: Ten is the perfect age. Actually, at a and (sometimes obscure) knowledge as straight through. I saw ways to make it lot of my signings predating Scholastic, I a freelance book selector and writer, a stronger, more linear story. It won’t be would see families bringing in their five- specializing in YA literature and graphic novels. significantly different from the Cartoon year-olds and seven-year-olds, and they Books editions, but there are at least one loved the books. One seven-year-old had

12 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS KAN BONE AND SCHOLASTIC GRAPHIX the thirteen-hundred-page one-volume until they gave him Bone. The pictures they take Shakespeare into high schools. book, and he’d read it twice! draw them into reading. From the kids’ They use a version she wrote for high point of view, they want to know what schools, and we’re having her work with Jean: Ten is the sweet spot, the age of the characters are saying in those word an artist to adapt her vision onto the more independent readers. Our series balloons. My father used to read the page. mostly start for age ten. The ten-year-old comics with me, and I wanted to know. in all of us loves books and movies like I taught myself to read with Charlie [Jean had to leave, so I asked John Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Bone. If a Brown. Of course, I was also learning in Mason, marketing director of Scholastic, book or movie can appeal to ten-year- school, but the comics were the apple, who was sitting in on the interview, the olds, it has broad appeal and will be a hit. the fun reward. next question.]

Jeff: Librarians caught me off-guard Kat: Yes, I was stuck learning to read from Kat: Will Scholastic be doing a study when I noticed they were supporting Dick and Jane. I much preferred Richie guide for the Graphix line, for Bone, for graphic novels. Vijaya [Jeff’s wife and Rich, Baby Huey, Marge’s Little Lulu, example? business partner] and I tried several Nancy and Sluggo. years ago to get Bone into bookstores and John: Yes, we’re working on a discussion/ distributors with no luck—they didn’t Jean: There aren’t as many kid-friendly study guide which will be posted on the want graphic novels. Then, a couple of titles out there right now. Web site. years ago Ingram called and said librar- ians were asking them to get Bone, Kat: Jean, in recent months more publish- Kat: Jeff, do you think it would ruin Bone because kids were going into libraries ers have been bringing out kid-friendly as a fun read if it’s studied in class? and asking for it. A couple of years ago, comics, such as Top Shelf with Owly and [laughter] I spoke at a YALSA preconference [“Get Dark Horse reprinting Marge’s Little Lulu. Graphic @ your library®,” 2002] with Art Did this have any influence on Scholastic Jeff: I think there’s enough fun stuff that Spiegelman, Neil Gaiman, and Colleen coming out with Graphix? the kids should still enjoy it. But there’s Doran. We were prepared to pitch com- also a lot of symbolism, I used Moby Dick ics, but the librarians were way ahead Jean: No, actually. David Saylor as a symbol, so there’s stuff to study, too, of us. They told us that circulation was [Scholastic’s VP creative director] iden- I guess. going down, but circulation of graphic tified graphic novels as something he novels was up 300 percent. was interested in. Scholastic needs to John: I have a question. Jeff, when you be a groundbreaker in the field. I set started coloring, did you know what col- Jean: Graphic novels always seemed for- out to educate myself about graphic ors to use right away, or did you have to bidden by institutions and academics. Jeff novels, and I saw a real opportunity to make it up with the colorist? and I are on a mission to tell everyone do something because there aren’t a lot that graphic novels are for everyone. They of graphic novels for children. They’re Jeff: I pictured the story in color when are just stories with pictures, and some mostly for teens and adults; they’re edgy, I first started working on Bone. I have libraries have kind of ghettoized them, definitely not for kids. It’s only fairly no skills to color, so I have to describe saying they’re not for them. Graphic nov- recently that more books for kids have everything to Steve [Hamaker, colorist]. It els are hooks to reading; they are for a been published. And since Scholastic takes six months to color each volume. broad audience. It takes education to get announced Graphix, some other pub- that point across. lishers have started graphic novel lines Kat: Jeff, can you tell me anything about for children. your new science fiction adventure story Jeff: Comics and graphic novels are differ- you’re planning? ent. Comics are endless serial adventures, Kat: I’m excited to see creators such as the heroes always come back for more, Chynna Clugston-Major writing Queen Jeff: Well, first I’m working on Captain but graphic novels are usually written Bee for Graphix. Do you have other cre- Marvel, so I won’t even start writing the by one person, maybe two, but with a ators lined up to write for your line? new story until next year. It will be for unique creative vision and a beginning, general audiences, not kids, and it’s not middle, and end. Jean: We’re working with Raina very science fictional. It will be set in Telgemeier to adapt The Babysitters Club modern-day New York City, a romance at Kat: I’ve been pushing for graphic novels for us. We are being selective because we the speed of light. in libraries since 1984! want quality work. Bone is the centerpiece of our imprint. Romeo and Juliet is defi- Kat: Thank you very much, Jeff and Jean, Jeff: At least one person at every sign- nite. We’re working with Tina Packer, the and John for taking the time to talk with ing says their son was a reluctant reader director of Shakespeare and Company; me. This was a real treat. ●

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 13 PUBLISHER/AUTHOR PERSPECTIVE OUCH! An Interview with PaperCutz Publisher Terry Nantier Jana Fine

ounded in 1976, Flying magazine. From there on it was a slow Buttress Publications, now build with such series over the years as Nantier Beall Minoustchine Corto Maltese by one of the giants of Publishing Inc. (NBM), was comics Hugo Pratt and The Mercenary, a the dream of Terry Nantier, spectacularly fully painted fantasy series. Fthen a student of Syracuse University’s We also made quite a name for ourselves Newhouse School of Communications. in pioneering library-worthy hardcover His vision of bringing comic albums to collections of classic comic strips such as America was slow to take off, but during Terry and the Pirates and Tarzan. the 1980s, NBM finally found its niche and steadily grew from there. Today, it Fine: I’m sure there are thousands of is the second largest independent comic potential graphic novels that are wait- press and has recently established a new ing to be published. How do you choose imprint called Papercutz. Papercutz is what to publish? Is the process similar to aimed at the adolescent or ’tween (age a written manuscript? eight to fourteen) market and has col- laborated with Simon and Schuster to Nantier: It is, in fact, for NBM anyway. introduce Nancy Drew and the Hardy We receive submissions all the time, have Boys as graphic novels. a process we ask of artists to submit, and take it from there (guidelines on our site, Fine: I understand you started NBM with www.nbmpub.com/home/subguidlines. friends in 1976 and began to import html). The choice is based on merit and European graphic novels into the U.S. whether it has a chance to find an audi- librarians have found, don’t knock it, What was that time period like for you ence, besides, of course, fitting well with it makes them read and many go on to and the company? our catalog. books! As for Papercutz, the line for kids, as Nantier: Graphic novels didn’t even have we are concentrating on licensed proper- Fine: On NBM’s Web site (www.nbmpub. a name yet! We were very much ahead ties, we just look for writers and artists com/history/about3.html), there is a state- of our time. People looked at us google- with experience in such, and for the artists, ment that says “From the beginning, the eyed: you want to put WHAT in the ones who can do the manga style well. view was to woo a general audience and bookstores? And they looked threatened! that goal has never changed.” Can you We were the enemy. There was a lot to be Fine: How do you feel about the fairly talk about what this means to you and has done to educate on the quality of comic sudden rise in popularity of graphic that goal changed at all since 1976? art, and slowly but surely we did so with novels among the general population? what we published, which illustrated What do you think has attributed to this Nantier: The whole point for NBM and clearly how intelligent comics can be. growth of a distinctly visual medium? now Papercutz is to bring in a whole new audience for comics and get comics back Fine: When did NBM become “America’s Nantier: People are realizing how good out as the mass medium that it’s always First Graphic Novel Publisher,” and what comics can be! They have great art with been. For years, we were floundering in novels put your company into the fore- very diverse styles and stories that can an increasingly fan-based environment front of the graphic novel industry? be very sophisticated and intelligent. For that was feeding on itself and only talk- kids, the success of manga stems from ing to itself. Superhero comics have been Nantier: In 1977 we published our first: the fact they grew up with Pokemon and suffering and have lost the younger gen- Racket Rumba, a spoof of noir thrill- other anime. It’s a style they recognize eration, regardless of the movies, due to ers. This was before anything else like plus a lot of the manga provides a good increasingly arcane stories that make it this, including the start of Heavy Metal long read that’s catchy and addictive. As hard for new readers to come in.

14 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS FINE OUCH!

We’ve never made choices based on real blast of fresh excitement we’ve also about graphic novels and their impact on just a fan audience but always ones that got Zorro coming out this fall as the young people? we felt a general reader could understand, new movie with Antonio Banderas and enjoy, and be attracted to. Specifically in Catherine Zeta-Jones comes out. Nantier: I think the word is out on how fact noncomics readers. GNs bring kids into libraries who prob- Fine: The ’tween market has always been ably wouldn’t come in at all otherwise, Fine: How has the success and acceptance there buying up as much as they can. many of whom go on to read regular of graphic novels in everyday society Why have an imprint line marketed books who wouldn’t otherwise. However, affected you personally? towards that age group? there is a heck of a lot of material being thrown out there, much of which is of Nantier: Ah, gratification. Nothing Nantier: They’ve in fact NOT been there dubious quality and questionable enter- sweeter than that. It’s a cause I’ve been for comics for quite a few years now. tainment value, if not downright ques- fighting for. It’s been fun going from Older fans were buying comics. The trend tionable, period. You do have to filter. explaining what a graphic novel is to of manga being bought by ’tweens is all- Just because something is in demand incredulous people visibly bringing me new, and what is particularly exciting is may not mean it’s appropriate for the down many notches in their esteem as I that at least half of them or maybe even a library to acquire. As a son of two gener- explained, to now hearing “cool!” as soon majority are girls! That hasn’t been seen ations of librarians, I know that they are as I mention the words. in ages. Comics had become known as altruistic people, second only to nurses a male geek thing. And that’s all being (if that!). Steering kids to the good stuff Fine: I understand that you and Jim rewritten as we speak! is always a good thing. Suggesting more Salicrup (formerly editor at Marvel and than the pandering, at times somewhat founder of the Topps Comics line) created Fine: How did you two come to a deci- prurient, typical manga, can get kids to Papercutz. Can you tell us a little about it? sion to publish Nancy Drew and the develop their tastes. As for any category, Hardy Boys in a comics-album format? get a good cross-section, not just the Nantier: It’s all about getting more and best-sellers. more kids into reading comics (which Nantier: We are building on an already then will get them into reading). It’s very successful trend: pocket-sized thick Fine: One last question—what would you about taking advantage of the fact that graphic novels with an affordable price. like to say to all the staff who work with kids are embracing again, in increasing Our next dimension is full-color and teens and ’tweens in libraries? numbers, reading comics and are mak- with series and characters that are as ing graphic novels the fastest growing American as apple pie. Nantier: Steer them from the manga to segment of publishing. It’s about taking things like Nancy Drew and Bone, then this exciting trend to the next level. After Fine: Many public libraries and school from the most popular to discovering, importing comics from Japan, Papercutz media centers have incorporated graphic say, classics adapted into comics and is now bringing well-known titles for novels into their collections. What do then they just might be ready to read the ’tween kids to comics. Besides bring- you see, from a publishing perspec- actual classic! ● ing Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys a tive, as important for libraries to realize

FINE FROM THE EDITOR continued from page 2 The following passage kind of says it speck of white cloud just where of living freight to the place of all for me: the sea and sky come down to destination. Her diminished size mingle with each other. Then is in me, not in her. And just at I am standing upon the seashore. someone at my side says, “There the moment when someone at A ship at my side spreads her she goes!” my side says, “There she goes!” white sails to the morning breeze Gone where? Gone from my there are other eyes watching her and starts for the blue ocean. sight . . . that is all. She is just as coming and their voices ready She is an object of beauty and large in mast and hull and spar to take up the glad shouts “Here strength, and I stand and watch as she was when she left my side she comes!”—Henry Van Dyke, until at last she hangs like a and just as able to bear her load “A Parable of Immortality” ●

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 15 TEEN PERSPECTIVE Graphic Generation Chris Fallis

raphic novels—why is it also assisted teens in recognizing cultural ment that is both simple and fun. This they’ve consumed book- differences brought by the reflection of exact style was widely used in the early shelves, libraries, stores, modern Japanese life including history, 1940s. During this time period, classic and such a great percent- culture, language, politics, economy, and novels were transformed into comics in age of teen homes? How is education. This graphic novel form visu- order to capture the attention of youth in Git that over the past few years these visual ally educates the reader with the reality of an alluring format. That single factor has sources of entertainment have grown so ordinary Japanese life while at the same assisted in explaining why graphic novels immensely popular? What makes them so time providing entertainment. Manga is have become so popular among youth. intriguing that the modern youth finds most easily recognized by the fact that But what aspects of graphic novels them to be such an absolute necessity? they’ve maintained a traditional Japanese have made them so attractive? Manga Perhaps it’s the fact that graphic novels reading format of right to left. has grown substantially more popular present epic anthologies of fantastical If manga can be classified under the among the teen population within the worlds, sci-fi, drama, and action that the term graphic novel, then why can’t comic past couple of years, mostly due to the imaginative teen mind craves. Over the books? The term graphic novel alludes to cultural appeal and diversity presented past couple of years, graphic novels have grown from simple visual stories to entire Though graphic novels have broadly been used as a source story arcs defined in an artistic format. of entertainment, they may also assist those who learn more So what has the modern definition of graphic novel become? visually as compared with those who prefer a more traditional The term graphic novel refers to literary source. visual images presenting a story in a more self-contained, novel-like format comics bound together not only to for- through black and white. By limiting as compared to the more juvenile, serial mulate a story, but also to build an entire color, the general genre of graphic nov- comic book, thus differentiating it from structure. They are more or less a collec- els allows teens to utilize their imagi- those appearing in the traditional comic tion of stories initially published sequen- nation and thereby formulate a hero book or magazine composition. Graphic tially in a comic book format. Some are similar to their ethnicity, culture, stan- novels are also used as a reference to the standalone novels published on a strict dards, moral codes, and overall self. The more popular term “manga”, a current time basis. Others are simply antholo- second most appealing characteristic phenomenon that has been developing gies of various series. Overall, the term would be manga’s cross-cultural appeal. in Japan since the early 1100s. Manga graphic novel is widely used to cover an Manga tends to focus on specific groups originated in Japan and is most easily extensive range of visual entertainment. and sexes. Some even go as far as to characterized by the widely recognized Though graphic novels have broadly classify the specification on the novel’s feature of exaggerated eyes and simplistic been used as a source of entertainment, cover, generalized by shojo (female) or features. Manga has grown astound- they may also assist those who learn more shonen (male). In doing so, manga has ingly popular with the modern youth of visually as compared with those who become fairly balanced with regard to Japan. In Japan such novels have long prefer a more traditional literary source. sexes. Some manga such as Kare Kano become a source of literary entertain- Currently, it seems as though teens pre- have targeted the teenage female popula- ment for both the young and old. Despite fer a more visual source of education. tion by basing the plot and story around Japan’s 98 percent literacy rate, manga With Internet access and programs such teen relationships as compared with has become immensely popular due to as instant messaging (both visual refer- males who seem to prefer a more action- the sheer entertainment element. It has ences), teens seem to prefer the visual based manga such as Rurouni Kenshin, a form over the printed word such as manga that provides both Japanese his- books. Graphic novels have long since tory and detailed action. The appeal of Chris Fallis is a freshman at Niskayuna provided a center of education in a more graphic novels can be defined in numer- (N.Y.) High School and is planning to visual and comprehensible format by ous ways. In my personal opinion, the attend an art college in order to pursue contributing both images and concepts sheer diversity, cost, entertainment, and a career in Japan as a manga-ka. He in one format that the modern teen is cultural catechism are all factors that is a longtime reader of Shonen Jump magazine and Viz graphic novels. more oriented to. In doing so, graphic form an alluring option for both educa- novels have created a learning environ- tion and amusement. ●

16 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS TEEN PERSPECTIVE The Otaku’s View on Manga Christina Cuchinotta

anga. Literally The manga-ka, or the artists or ing and fun to draw, and it doesn’t take a translated, it means authors of the manga, are ingenious in very long time, unlike some true-to-life “whimsical pictures.” setting up their plotlines as well as any styles. With exaggerated poses, big hair If you know what professional author of a text-based story and clothing, and chibi eyes (to name a manga is, and the would. The only difference is that their very few examples), one’s imagination Mstyles that it can take on, it kind of fits, details are not given in words but in can take off and make anything they want doesn’t it? Graphic novels are another, pictures. Any action, expression, or reac- as long as they confine to a few basics of western form of manga. The descrip- tion is given to you in an image instead the style. And if there’s anything else that tion still works. Even though there of described in text. And usually, these comes to mind? It’s there for the taking are many teens who think that anime images are very amusing. A character’s and molding into whatever form the art- is synonymous with “cartoon,” and extremely shocked reaction to a surpris- ist so wishes. manga or graphic novels are something ing statement is something that someone Manga and graphic novels are like to be avoided for sake of looking cool should see at least once. The expression any other story, really. The only differ- or mature, that’s not particularly true. can be so outrageous, yet sometimes ence is that they’re told through pic- Manga has become a form of art, as well as entertainment, and both manga I feel that it’s so cool that libraries carry them. and western graphic novels provide a new way to look at the issues that you kind of wish it was humanly pos- tures, not words. That’s why I feel that many teens—not just those of Japanese sible to re-create that kind of face, if and it’s so cool that libraries carry them. nationality—face today. when faced with similar circumstances. And even though it’s not important to a I’ll say it upfront, right now: manga And almost nine times out of ten, the majority of a library’s clientele, or even and American graphic novels do not usual teen (about which these stories necessary to be carried, it’s certainly require the highest grade level to read. are usually based) has (or has had) a appreciated. Manga is expensive to teens It’s (mostly) meant for people of all ages similar experience, give or take a little on a limited budget, and usually librar- and intelligences to read and understand, bit: a love triangle, for instance, or a ies who carry graphic novels and manga and if there’s a hidden connotation that young boy that tries to rise out of the carry the most popular (and sometimes may require one to be a bit savvier to low circumstances he’s surrounded by the slightly more expensive) titles. It pick up on, that’s cool. But you’ll never after being beaten down countless times, gives those who might not have the lose anything from the story. Regardless, but eventually winds up on top. Even money to spend on the books something it is entertaining. Just like when someone if the characters seem glorified, or the completely different from a text-styled picks up the new romance or fantasy plotlines outrageous, the messages are book. And possibly more entertaining. novel off the bookshelf, picking up a usually universal (even if they vary to At least, that’s how I feel. ● just-released volume of a favorite manga the extremes), and are able to be applied or the latest Shonen Jump promises a to almost any teen. And even if there’s few hours of well-spent reading. [As a an adult reading the book, the message Christina Cuchinotta is a junior at side, Shonen Jump is a popular magazine is easily picked up on, and it gives every- Niskayuna (N.Y.) High School. She is a translated into English that is dedicated one something to think about. self-proclaimed manga and anime okatu (extreme fan girl) and has read more to publishing manga (in Shonen Jump’s There are many people who enjoy volumes than she can count. She hopes case, boy’s manga). Magazines are where reading manga and drawing manga as to study in Japan for a year when she all manga starts.] And depending on the well. The style that manga has started reaches college and eventually wants storyline, a good laugh, something to is something that is easy to notice and to become a chemist, though how she ponder, or even a reason to shed a tear or copy, though it takes a long time to truly will ever connect the two she has yet to figure out. so is always present. master. But it is something that is reward-

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 17 TEEN PERSPECTIVE Manga Madness in the Library Angie Espelage

tep aside Marvel, and make It was that summer that the teen way for the newest graphic librarian Paige told me her plans on novel craze from Japan: manga! creating an anime night. I was enthusi- Manga is the Japanese term astic about the idea, and it turned out for comic, and its style is very so were many other teens in the area. Sunique. Big, bright eyes adorn the faces Anime night was such a success that it of men and women alike. Magical worlds was turned into Harrison’s Anime Club, come alive as a character stumbles into which still meets monthly. More than another universe or is faced with a situ- forty teens show up for this event, all ation that is very real in our own world. sharing the same love of anime. It was No matter what the manga, there is such through library programs such as this a wide variety to choose from that every- that I was able to meet other anime and one can find one to enjoy. Since its arrival manga fans like me, and I made many at the library, more and more people are friends in the process! Who would have able to enjoy the stunningly beautiful art thought there were so many fans of this and watch fascinating sagas unfold! growing craze just in Harrison? Sadly, I, personally, was very excited to see as I entered into my freshman year in the new arrival of manga in the library. college, I no longer had the time to go This was back when the selection con- to the club meetings. I not only left Sample of Espelage’s artwork. sisted of a few volumes of Dragon Ball the anime club but also my own Teen and Saint Tail, but I checked them all out. Writing Club, where I had been president you can! There’s no better way to learn This was my chance to read manga for for two years. the anime style than by looking to the free, and anyone else who buys manga It was very recently that I was asked experts. Be daring! Try a manga or two knows what I mean. It can get pretty to return to my writing club and speak that you wouldn’t normally read. The expensive! What attracted me to them was at a meeting. The theme of the month more you read, the broader your experi- the art, which I found to be intriguing. was about creating comics! Of course I ence will be. The last and best tip I can Somehow they were able to make a per- wanted to see my friends again, but this give anyone is to practice drawing. Every son, whose eyes were half the size of their was a chance to talk about something time you draw you learn something new, head, look beautiful! I decided to try my I really loved. Over the past years I had so even doodling helps! If you find the hand at drawing with the same style; it’s practiced my technique and even tried most gorgeous illustration, go ahead too bad I didn’t keep them since they’re to make my own comic. Word of advice: and try to copy it. Tracing is considered pretty humorous! With manga available It’s a lot harder than it looks! I only got cheating! By copying pictures you love at the library, I was able to check out as three pages done in three months, but from artists you love, you develop a style many comics as I wanted, with no fear I was very happy to present the pages of your own and can also learn a thing that I was wasting my money. It allowed at the Teen Writing Club’s meeting on or two. Just don’t go calling the artwork me to study the different styles of the March 19. The looks of amazement your own, as you would be breaking manga artists and gave me an opportunity on their faces made me feel incredibly copyright laws. The art that I submitted to broaden my knowledge of the manga relieved and pleased. Like any artist, I for this article is all original, yet I didn’t style. Of all the artists, I particularly love didn’t think my work would go over very just obtain the talent immediately. I’ve CLAMP since it was their Cardcaptor well and could stand some improve- been drawing anime for over four years, Sakura who brought me to love anime ment. Surprised with their compliments, and I have decades to go before I can call (Japanese animation) and manga. I proceeded with confidence to give them myself a pro. advice about comicking. Ever since that year manga came to If any readers are curious about the library, my admiration for books and Eighteen-year-old Angie Espelage is the art of manga, here are a few sugges- the library has grown. I continue to read majoring in art education at the College tions. First, I believe that research is the manga to this day, and I encourage others of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio. key to learning about what you love. If to read it, too. There are so many worlds She enjoys drawing anime and dragons or losing herself in a good book. manga is your passion, as it is mine, go to explore in these comics, and I’m not the to the library and read as much of it as only one who loves discovering them. ●

18 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS SCHOOL/PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE Holy Reading Revolution, Batman! Developing a Graphic Novel Collection for Young Adults Alison Ching

K, let’s get one thing out in magnitude of the passion many kids have unfortunate for them to read only mys- the open right away: I am a for these books. Let me illustrate. Our teries or fantasy or romance, I believe comic book geek. It’s true. library serves a student population of graphic novels represent an excellent It all started in high school about 2,300 in grades 9–12. Currently, we opportunity to get students hooked on when my guy friends got have 372 graphic novels, which account the written word, which can only be a Ome hooked on the X-Men. That band of for 1.5 percent of our total collection. As good thing in the end. merry mutants turned out to be my gate- of late March, we have had 3,158 graphic way drug, plunging me into the strange novel circulations during the 2004–2005 and mysterious world of sequential art. For school year, accounting for a whopping Nuts and Bolts years, I haunted comic shops, scoured the 17.7 percent of our total circs during that Graphic novels generally range in price Internet for information on my favorite time. In terms of percentage, this makes from $9.95 to $19.95. In terms of for- books and characters, and, at one point, graphic novels our top circulating sec- mat, the best choice is paperback. Many even collaborated with my friends to write tion, coming out far ahead of the next graphic novels only come in paperback our very own superhero comic, the sole 3 runners-up (the 300s: 15.7 percent of editions, which makes choosing a format issue of which is thankfully lost to poster- circs, 8.6 percent of collection; fiction: a moot point, but even if a hardcover ity. But then, in the late nineties, I entered a 15.6 percent of circs, 23 percent of collec- is available, a paperback is still usu- period of fangirl ennui, during which I was tion; and the 800s: 10.2 percent of circs, ally a better choice. When we started enjoying comics less and less, until I read 8.6 percent of collection). This does not the graphic novel collection, I ordered only one or two books sporadically and reflect the large number of students who mostly paperbacks in accordance with then went for extended periods without read graphic novels in the library without the literature I’d read on graphic novel picking up a comic at all. checking them out. collection development, and if the spines That all changed in fall 2002. At that I confess that when we started this are reinforced with book tape, the books point, I was still a pretty green librarian, collection, I thought our students would actually hold up pretty well. In the past, only one year removed from a stint in the like the graphic novels, but I had no idea we have experimented with prebinds and classroom teaching English. When we dis- they would be so outrageously popular. laminated covers, but these types of bind- covered that the theme for Teen Read Week One particular concern I had was with ings have fallen apart even more quickly that year would be “Get Graphic @ your manga, the ubiquitous comics from than the paperbacks. The basic truth is library®!” my far more experienced librar- Japan. Even after being translated into that, eventually, you will probably have to ian partner suggested we start a graphic English, many of these books are meant replace some books, but at that point the novel collection. Since I knew a little some- to be read from right to left, in accor- original copies will have circulated well thing about comics, I got to work on the dance with the original Japanese. Having enough to justify the cost. first order. Soon, the graphic novel collec- spent three years in an English classroom In terms of shelving, there are a tion was my baby, and my flame for com- with some less-than-strong readers, I couple of options. One is to shelve all ics was reignited. Lately, my zeal has been was concerned these books would be graphic novels under 741.5, which is largely directed into proselytizing to the too difficult for some students to follow. the Dewey designation for cartoons uninitiated, so strap in, folks—here we go. My fears were completely unfounded. and drawings, regardless of the subject. Perhaps because of the increasingly visual nature of the culture around them, most Why Collect Graphic students can and do read manga with Novels? Because Kids ease, and as a result, they probably know Alison Ching is a librarian at North Really Like Them more about Japanese culture than most Garland High School in Garland, Texas, adults. While I think it would be unfor- the school she attended as a stu- dent. She is waiting for volume two of If this argument seems oversimplified, it tunate for kids to read only manga and Astonishing X-Men with bated breath. is only because it does not reflect the full other graphic novels, just as it would be

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 19 HOLY READING REVOLUTION, BATMAN! CHING

Another is to intershelve graphic novel titles may be particularly appealing the few English-language maga- titles with other books based on their because movies based on Marvel zines of this type available in the subjects, such as shelving fictional stories characters have recently been or U.S. Our library has a subscrip- under fiction, Art Spiegelman’s Holocaust will soon be released. These include tion, and when the more-than- story Maus under 940, Judd Winnick’s Spider-Man, X-Men, The Incredible two-hundred-page issues come in, Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What Hulk, Daredevil, and The Fantastic they are catalogued and circulated I Learned under 364.1, and so on. A third Four. It bears noting here that when like other manga. The magazine is option, which is the one we use, is to cre- dealing with characters and story- enormously popular among our ate a separate section for graphic novels lines that extend back forty years or students, and I have a sneaking sus- within the library. Our graphic novels are more, as DC and Marvel do, many picion it would disappear if it were shelved in the front of our library, near series can exist based on the same not available for circulation. the magazines, which makes them very characters, and various series can be These are by no means the only browser-friendly. They all are assigned the geared toward different audiences. sources of graphic novels. There are designation 741.5, but this number is pre- For example, X-Men Evolution is a many excellent smaller publishers, such ceded by a “GN” designator to let patrons, good book for middle-schoolers, as Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press, aides, and librarians know at a glance that while Astonishing X-Men is more which distribute works that would be the book is a graphic novel and should be of an older teen book. Along with good for YA collection. Keep an eye out shelved in its special section rather than in reviews, publishers’ Web sites can for publishers when reading reviews or the general nonfiction area. help librarians keep series straight the graphic novels themselves and make and make informed collection devel- notes for future reference. opment decisions. Major Publishers ● Dark Horse—While Dark Horse When you’re just getting started in the does publish original work, much of Resources development of a graphic novel col- what they offer is based on licensed lection, the choices can be kind of properties such as Buffy the Vampire In 2002, graphic novel reviews and selec- overwhelming. One of the best ways to Slayer and Star Wars. Local inter- tion tools were still very hard to come become an informed consumer is to learn est should factor into the titles you by. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. about some of the major publishers and select. In our library, the Buffy titles Major professional publications includ- the titles they offer. This will enable you circulate fairly well, while the Star ing VOYA, School Library Journal, and to zero in on the sources most likely to Wars titles don’t; in another library, Booklist now regularly feature reviews of provide you with the types of books you the exact opposite might be true. graphic novels. Even so, there are some want, while also helping you to make ● TokyoPop—TokyoPop is perhaps the very valuable electronic resources that informed decisions about individual largest and most popular purveyor can be very helpful for collection devel- titles: These are a few of the names you of manga in the U.S. Conveniently, opment. One of these is the GNLIB-L will see most frequently: all of TokyoPop’s titles have a code distribution list, which is devoted entirely on the back cover providing the to discussion of graphic novels in librar- ● DC—DC is one of the oldest and recommended age group for that ies. You can subscribe at www.topica. best-established publishers in the title. In my experience, most books com/lists/GNLIB-L. Another fantastic market, particularly when it comes rated Teen (13+) or lower would be resource is the Web site “No Flying, No to superhero titles. DC’s roster of fine for most YA collections; books Tights” (www.noflyingnotights.com). characters includes some of the most with codes of Older Teen (16+) and Webmistress Robin Brenner is a young enduring figures in our popular higher should be considered care- adult librarian and provides lots of great culture: Batman, Wonder Woman, fully. Of course, to paraphrase Pirates information for both young adults and and, perhaps most iconic, Superman. of the Caribbean, these are more the librarians who serve them, including Most DC titles are suitable for YA guidelines than what you’d call actual a breakdown of recommended titles by collections, the one major excep- rules. age-appropriateness. While most librar- tion being titles published under ● Viz Communications—Viz is the ians are at least marginally familiar with the Vertigo imprint. While there are publisher of some very popular superheroes, manga can still present some exceptions, such as the Neil Gaiman- manga titles: Dragon Ball, Dragon special challenges. A Librarian’s Guide penned The Books of Magic, most Ball Z, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Also, Viz is to Anime and Manga (www.koyagi.com/ Vertigo titles are solidly adult in con- the publisher of the manga maga- Libguide.html) is a good introduction for tent and should be treated as such. zine Shonen Jump. In Japan, before the uninitiated. Finally, the archived Web ● Marvel—Marvel is another well- manga titles are released in book page for the Get Graphic! @ your library established publisher with popu- form, they are usually serialized in Teen Read Week promotion can be found lar superhero characters. Marvel magazines. Shonen Jump is one of at http://archive.ala.org/teenread/trw.

20 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS CHING HOLY READING REVOLUTION, BATMAN!

This page has a lot of good information Mashima, Hiro. Rave Master, Volume 1. 1929998759. and some helpful links. Los Angeles: TokyoPop, 2003. ISBN Ongoing series—currently three vol- 1591820642. Ongoing series—cur- umes rently sixteen volumes Whedon, Joss. Astonishing X-Men: Gifted. Recommended Titles Miller, Frank. Batman: The Dark Knight New York: Marvel, 2005. ISBN Returns. New York: DC Comics, 0785115315. The following are some specific titles I 2002. ISBN 156389341X. Ongoing series—currently one vol- would recommend to librarians just start- Standalone title—this is the tenth- ume ing out with graphic novel collections. anniversary edition. There is one Whedon, Joss. Fray. Milwaukie: Dark Some are standalone volumes, while oth- sequel, Batman: The Dark Knight Horse, 2003. ISBN 1569717516. ers are first volumes in series. The anno- Strikes Again. Standalone title tations explain which is which (number Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Yoshizumi, Wataru. Marmalade Boy, of available volumes is based on status as Pantheon, 2003. ISBN 0375422307. Volume 1. Los Angeles: TokyoPop, of late March 2005). Standalone title with one sequel, 2002. ISBN 1931514542. Ashihara, Hinako. Forbidden Dance, Persepolis 2. Series comprised of eight volumes. Volume 1. Los Angeles: TokyoPop, Smith, Jeff. Bone: Out from Boneville. 2003. ISBN 1591823455. Columbus: Cartoon Books, 1996. Our goal for the library has always Series comprised of four volumes ISBN 0963660942. been to create a fun and welcoming place Bendis, Brian Michael. Ultimate Spider- Series comprised of nine main for our students. The graphic novel col- Man: Power and Responsibility. volumes, plus a couple of spin-off lection has gone a long way towards New York: Marvel, 2001. ISBN volumes. helping us accomplish that goal. Even if 078510786X. Soryo, Fuyumi. Mars, Volume 1. Los you don’t catch the fever for discussing Ongoing series—currently twelve Angeles: TokyoPop, 2002. ISBN the finer points of Wolverine’s healing volumes 1931514585. factor or Superboy’s genealogy, provid- Johns, Geoff. Teen Titans: A Kid’s Game. Series comprised of fifteen volumes, ing graphic novels to your teen patrons New York: DC Comics, 2004. ISBN plus the bonus volume A Horse with can give them a sense of ownership in 1401203086. No Name. the library and you a warm fuzzy feeling Ongoing series—currently two vol- Van Meter, Jen. Hopeless Savages. derived from helping them develop a life- umes Portland: Oni Press, 2002. ISBN long relationship with books. ●

Everything the New Generation of Fans Needs to Know About the Beatles A fast-paced, fun-to-read guide to the Beatles Written by a father for his teenaged daughter More than just a biography The author explores the Beatles phenomenon and the reasons for the band’s break-up. Probing into many of the controversies, myths, and mysteries surrounding the most popular and influential music group in history, the author examines the hot issues for today's teenaged Beatles fans. Current information on Beatles fan clubs, magazines, festivals, and Internet resources is included.

Available August 2005 • Distributed by Baker & Taylor 0-9658740-7-9 • Hardcover • 208 Pages • $24.95 www.averstreampress.com

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 21 SCHOOL/PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE Y Archive? The Rapid Rise of Graphic Novels and Their Place in the Cleveland Public Library Rollie Welch and Julianne Brown

s young adult librarians, (You know, a how-we-did-it, manga titles sitting on the shelves. My we’re sure that you, our ain’t-we-great, and don’t-you-envy-us, experience with this type of comic was fellow comrades in the though-you’ve-probably-done-the-same- limited, and I was determined to expand trenches, are absolutely or-mean-to, report.) my knowledge . . . if there was a demand sold, from top-to-toe, on So, on with the boasting! for manga in the City of Cleveland. Athe artistic and literary merit, the cultural Like many other YA librarians, I sat in significance, and the outright . . . funacity Rollie on workshop presentations about graphic of comics, graphic novels, and manga. So novels and quickly became overwhelmed there’s no place here for dry, philosophi- Entering Cleveland Public Library’s Main by the enormous volume of titles and cal discussions on the nature of (as Eisner Building on December 1, 2003 as a newly series. Very few authentic manga titles describes it) “sequential art,” nor is there hired young adult librarian, thoughts had circulated in my former library, so I room for any Derridian deconstruction of the daunting task of ordering new just wasn’t familiar with them. But I knew of the visual/textual plane—“Dude! I did young adult books for the entire system from lurking on discussion boards posted all that in undergrad!” We’re with you of twenty-eight branches and the main on YALSA-BK that in many areas of the there—but the ghost of these and other building were foremost on my mind. Of country, manga rules, so again, I was lofty (though largely academic, and thus course I was expected to provide outreach prompted to start Manga 101. impractical) ideas inform our policy and services for teens by offering programs, Prowling the ten floors of pub- practice as librarians, and we cannot and conducting school visits, as well as lic access areas in the main building, I escape their mighty influence. increase circulation of young adult mate- located quite extensive graphic novel So here’s a tale about the Cleveland rials—you know, the routine aspects of collections tucked away in our literature (Ohio) Public Library (CPL) and the any YA librarian. I had ideas about pro- and popular library departments. But humble graphic novel. Laugh and cry grams to implement and felt confident the series were incomplete, and it seemed with us as we describe how comics, that I knew my stuff about current books that they were purchased randomly or graphic novels, and manga made the and popular materials . . . but how to tar- selected from positive reviews, without journey from marginalia to mainstream, get teens across the city and put in place input from our patrons. from the back shelves to crowning glory books that would circulate, and circulate I mentioned my desire to increase as archival material. Even, dare we say, well, was a big problem. young adult circulation by building a from pulp to priceless. In my former position, graphic more extensive graphic novel collection to novels were just beginning to catch some of my coworkers. My Spidey-sense on but weren’t the hottest item in the started tingling when I heard comments Now in his twenty-fourth year as a teen collection. When I came on board such as, “What literary value do they librarian, Rollie Welch is employed as a young adult librarian at the Cleveland at CPL, my predecessor had really got have?” or “We really can’t have them with Public Library and is a member of the ball rolling with graphic novels by those types of pictures on the covers.” YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Young ordering a core collection of titles, both Was it possible that there was a prevailing Adult Readers Committee. He is serves manga and comics. negative attitude to these types of books as chair of VOYA’s Top Shelf for Middle It was pretty solid, featuring and possibly to YA material overall? School Fiction Committee. Julianne Brown is a recent graduate from Kent renowned writers such as Will Eisner, The spring of 2004 brought some State, Kent, Ohio. She is an avid comic Frank Miller, and Craig Thompson. But hot movie releases adapted from graphic and manga fan, and looks forward to there were the staples, too: Spider-Man, novels, including Hellboy and Spider-Man a long and happy career serving young Batman, Superman, and other superhero 2, further affirming my resolve to pro- adults, whilst gaining as much fame types gazed at me from their covers as I vide more current material for our teen (or infamy) as Melvil Dewey or Michele Gorman. first browsed the collection. I was pleased patrons. And the final push came from to see, but at the same time wary of, the the patrons themselves with passing com-

22 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS WELCH AND BROWN Y ARCHIVE? ments such as, “Hey, you gonna get any the conversation steered to graphic nov- But wait! It gets better. Hellboy books in here?” els. Like a cat, she sprung on the topic I was asked to present information I was further frustrated, no, make saying, “Oh sure, we can get you those on graphic novels to the serials commit- that embarrassed, when a teen patron through SNAP.” tee about this “new” format of book and asked me about the series Vagabond, of “Like snapping your fingers?” I explain why it attracts teens. I entered the which he held our only title of the series, asked, showing my dexterity by clicking meeting armed with a variety of graphic volume 8. I pleaded ignorance and tried off a few sounds. novels and manga, ready to explain what my best to conduct a quality reader’s SNAP stands for Selection, authentic manga is, how they’re differ- advisory interview. I asked, “So, is that a Notification, and Acquisition Plan, (I ent from American graphic novels and good series?” quickly learned) and a library could order how many (such as Craig Thompson’s To his credit, he did not scoff. graphic novels on preview, limiting them Blanket) have won prestigious awards. I Instead, he gave me a lesson in manga by publisher, patron age, author, or illus- was interrupted in my enthusiastic pre- and how this series in particular is based trator. Like many librarians, I was imme- sentation with the question: “Why are on the Japanese warrior Miyamoto diately leery of preview plans. I mean, they all so pornographic?” Mushashi, an actual figure from the feu- who needs to battle with the accounting Uh oh. dal society of seventeenth-century Japan. department on a weekly basis? Who needs Well, my powers of persuasion He said that we really should have the trash that the vendor just wants to unload? must have been high, for two hours complete series rather than just the one Those fears aside, BWI’s program fit after that query, I was given the direc- random title he had in his hand. my immediate needs and fortunately our tive by the committee to begin a col- Dazzling him with my customer ser- collections manager felt that our library lection that would be archived, so that vice skills (and mining this fall-into-my-lap needed to take a leadership role in the future generations could visit CPL and information source) I asked, “Is there a big region for providing a wide variety of view a sampling of twenty-first-century interest in Cleveland for manga books?” graphic novels. pop culture. His answer? “Dude, it’s huge. You We were on our way. We are proud to be a major urban gotta get this stuff.” The books arrive weekly and CPL’s library that (in a relatively short time) Well, yeah, but why stop at just youth services librarians view them at has taken steps to increase its commit- Hellboy, Spider-Man, or Vagabond? The a monthly meeting, selecting titles they ment to graphic novels and manga, and problem now was: how can I get a large want in their collection. This enables us to provide a wide variety of these titles number and an extensive variety into the to pinpoint what they’re getting rather to teens and other patrons. With the collection in the shortest amount of time? than a blind central order offering them archive project, we have the beginnings of Trusted friends in the young adult limited input. Through this system, CPL a graphic novel collection that will stand world told me it was simple. Just go to the is now adding about seventy-five new the test of time and truly represent a fas- local comic book store and write down graphic novels a month. cinating (and oft neglected) segment of titles you like, go back to your cubicle and The first shipment sent twenty-two current pop culture. order them! No offense, but I was order- new titles, and you can imagine my joy ing for the City of Cleveland, twenty-eight when I activated them electronically and Julie branches, and the main library. That’s a discovered fifteen holds by teens viewing potential outbreak of arthritis from jot- our catalog. It was great knowing that I Okay, so now you know how it happened ting down hundreds of ISBNs. had finally got them what they wanted at CPL, and you might consider develop- I chatted up some of our daily after- and placed it in their hands. ing your own special collection or mini- school walk-ins who each day rushed to A year later, we have an active anime archive. If you’re anything like me, then the computers to spend hours with their mania club that meets biweekly and you’re interested in a practical sort of eyes glued to the monitors. What were recently sponsored an anime film festival guide to the best. they watching? Anime. They told me how that drew over one hundred teens to the Lest I step on any toes here, I’m just the series are cool, romantic, and scary library for the day! Through the club I’ve a newly graduated, naïve little imp, after (Hey, this sounds just like hardcover found that popular series are Hellsing, all, and it would behoove me to acknowl- books!). And further enlightened me with Hot Gimmick, Model, Inu Yasha, Fruits edge one of the leading gurus in the field, this nugget of information: anime are Basket, Tuxedo Gin, Sgt. Frog, and Boys (though he’s just a business librarian, made into manga and vice versa. Was I Over Flowers (though the list is poten- imagine!) our own Michael R. Lavin. He the last YA librarian to know this? tially endless). The collection is fluid, has published several highly informative Enter BWI (formerly known as Book and the anticipated shelving space prob- articles on the selection and development Wholesalers, Inc.), our library’s preferred lem never materialized. The books are of a comics collection for public libraries, vendor for ordering new books. During immediately checked out upon return, many of which are available at his Web a scheduled meeting with the sales rep and teens take out over a dozen titles at a site: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/ about navigating the TitleTales database, time. Wonderful. units/lml/comics/pages.

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 23 Y ARCHIVE? WELCH AND BROWN

Yet, excellent though his work is, he they have awards for Best Comic manual o’ selection. They are must-haves isn’t snooty enough to recommend only Character, including Rodger the for any serious comics archive collection: award winners. That’s where I step in. Dodger (weekly comic strip by Here is a short list of comics awards sepa- Robert Nixon), and Nikolai Dante Adolf rated by region: (Robbie Morrison and Simon Osamu Tezuka ● United States Fraser). VIZ LLC, 1996 ● Rueben. Named for Reuben ● France ISBN: 1569310580 (volume one) “Rube” Goldberg, the National ● Alph-Art. Originally, named the This is a five-volume series, and the Cartoonists Society’s first presi- Alfred Awards, after a penguin entire set is a must. Tezuka is the manga dent and designer of the award from Alain Saint-Ogan’s series god of Japan, and this ground-breaking statuette, it was first awarded in Zig et Puce. In 1989, the name series explores the lives of three individu- 1946 for Milton Caniff’s Steve was changed to the Alph’art. als named Adolf: a Jewish boy living in Canyon. Its most recent recipi- Recipients include native French Japan; a half-Japanese, half-German boy; ent (2002) is Matt Groening, artists as well as American comic and the leader of Nazi Germany. This is creator of the Simpsons. writers like Brian Michael Bendis a wonderfully fresh perspective on the ● Eisner. This award was named (Torso, Fortune and Glory). events of World War II. in honor of Will Eisner, cre- ● Germany ator of The Spirit and Contract ● Max and Moritz Prize. Though Bone (complete edition) with God, begun in 1988. Its awarded exclusively to materi- Jeff Smith most recent recipient (2004) in als published in Germany, the Cartoon Books, 2004 one of its many genres is Neil award began in 1984 and recog- ISBN: 188896314X Gaiman’s Sandman: Endless nizes quality artwork and story Three modern cartoon cousins get Nights. This award is huge, on an international scale. lost in a pretechnological valley, spending ladies and gentlemen. Do not Now for manga! Only the hottest a year there making new friends and out- neglect any Eisner award win- cultural import and the most beloved running dangerous enemies. Their many ner—they’re like the Academy component of many YA collections, so be adventures include The Great Cow Race, Awards of the comic industry. sure to look for these nominations and and a giant mountain lion called RockJaw: ● Harvey. Ever read Mad maga- recognitions: Master of the Eastern Border. They learn zine? This award was named about sacrifice and hardship in a climactic ● Japan: for Harvey Kurtzman, creator journey to The Crown of Horns. ● Nippon (Manga Artist of Mad. It was first awarded in Association Award) 1988 and has honored comic Maus (box set) ● Osamu Tezuka Bunka Shô writers as diverse as Alan Art Spiegelman (Named for legendary manga Moore (Watchmen), Craig Pantheon Books, 1993 artist, Osamu Tezuka) Thompson (Blankets), and ISBN: 0679748407 ● Kodansha (Kodansha Cultural Alex Ross (Astro City). All volumes in one complete set. If Award) ● Ignatz. You’d have to be a you haven’t heard of Maus, then you’ve ● Shogakukan Manga Shô hard-core fan of comics and been living under a rock. It’s the story of (Shogukan Publishers Award) graphic novels to get this one. the narrator, Artie, and his father Vladek, Named for George Herriman’s These should guide you right when a Holocaust survivor. brick-wielding mouse, Ignatz, making selections for your archives, but in the surrealist comic, Krazy nothing beats personal recommendations Sandman Kat, the award began in 1997 from experts. Plenty of useful informa- Neil Gaiman and has seen an on-again, off- tion on these and other awards are com- DC Comics, 1993 again popularity. As its name piled by Joel Hahn on his “Comics Award ISBN: 1563890119 (Volume One) and heritage suggest, this award Almanac,” available at http://users.rcn. This is a ten-volume series, and highlights alternative, eclec- com/aardy/comics/awards. I recommend the whole set. Gaiman tic comic artists such as Rich Hahn and Lavin have collaborated draws from European and world Koslowski (Three Fingers) and in the past, and their work is an excel- mythology to spectacular effect in Jason Shiga (Fleep). lent resource if you’re on shaky ground one of the most original fantasy series ● United Kingdom when it comes to comics, graphic nov- ever. The main characters are Dream, a ● National Comics Awards. The els, or manga. Morpheus-like protagonist, and his com- National Comics Awards are the And because I just can’t resist, this plex siblings, Destiny, Death, Delirium, premier comic industry awards upstart new LIS graduate will recommend Despair, and Desire. of Great Britain. Begun in 1997, a few of her favorite titles in this little continued on page 26

24 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS SCHOOL/PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE Who Is Reading Manga? One High School’s Story Melissa Bergin

heir hair is long and short, group of readers? What did they have in Almost half the sample, fifteen students, light and dark, and occa- common? What was the appeal? reported reading at least twenty books a sionally a shocking purple. I set out to do some research. I cre- year, not including manga and required They wear short skirts, long ated a one-page survey, and, with the schoolbooks. Within that sample, six flowing coats, and all-black help of two wonderful paraprofessionals reported more than fifty books a year! Toutfits. And a couple of them have the who spend much more time with the (And I am embarrassed to say I can only biggest, most beautiful eyes you have ever students and the graphic novel collection name three of them!) Many reported a seen. Am I talking about the characters in than I do, I set about surveying students. preference for fantasy and adventure, manga? I could be, but in this case I am Between students who came in to borrow echoed by the fact that Inu-Yasha is our talking about my students who read them. manga and those taking the survey to the number one circulating title in the col- As librarians we are always wonder- school’s Anime Club, I soon had thirty- lection. Several reported romance as ing who exactly is reading the books we three responses. their favorite, also supported by the buy. Sure, we see some readers as we do So what did I find out? Well, first constant circulation of shojo series like readers advisory, but others slip to the of all, I wasn’t finding out who these Kare Kano and Mars. All but one student shelves and back out without ever trip- students were. Their self-descriptions, reported that reading was easy for them. ping our radar. I know manga is big with particularly of their own reader type, dif- Considering that the sample included my students. I know I have to hide half- fered from others’ descriptions of them. students who are identified as special processed books, or they will try to take I surveyed thirty-three students ages education students, it says that students them out. If I process them while students fourteen through eighteen. Of those stu- are feeling successful reading manga— are around, I need to keep sticky notes at dents, twenty-three were female, and ten even if they have to read it backward. I’ve hand to create impromptu reserve lists as were male. This gender difference did not wondered for some of these students if the students see them. The manga I have surprise me. Our anime club was started the challenge of reading a book forward make up less than 1 percent of my col- by girls, and my collection is heavily is so great that the challenge of reading a lection but is creating between 25 and 30 weighted to shojo (girl) manga, since that book backwards is no greater. (“Authentic percent of our circulation most months. is what has been requested. Like many manga,” the most popular of the manga I’ve known for a long time that the other areas of buying, I also have to fight forms being printed currently, is printed paraprofessionals in my library who my own “appeal” criterion to buy what I in the original Japanese format with the handle the reserves and interlibrary loans think is cool. Just because Yu Yu Hakusho reader starting at what we would consider often know more about a particular doesn’t appeal to me doesn’t, in fact, the back of the book and reads right to student’s reading habits than I know. I mean it will not circulate well. left to the front of the book.) knew our school had an active anime I tried through the survey to see what These are also social students. While group who often suggested new titles types of students were reading the manga. a few were self-reported bookworms or for our collection and that a significant The majority almost evenly split (fif- athletes, a majority of students reported number of titles were being loaned to our teen to sixteen) between being a “good” their favorite activity as “hanging out with local middle school. But who was reading student and an “average” student, with friends.” One of the other teachers in my them here at our high school library? only two considering themselves “poor” building brought it to my attention that My casual observation showed three students. Favorite classes were most likely types of readers. The first type was a to be English, art, or math, while at the reader who was interested in anime and same time the least favorite class was Melissa Bergin is one of a team of two Japanese culture and was reading manga overwhelmingly likely to be math. Is there library media specialists at Niskayuna in light of its popularity. The second something about how the mind processes (N.Y.) High School. She recently spent type was an avid reader who would read the information in graphic novels that is part of February and March in Japan as anything that wouldn’t walk away. And more or less compatible with a learning a volunteer with Special Olympics for the the third type was a reluctant reader who style needed for math? 2005 World Winter Games. She is cur- rently working on an additional degree in was attracted to titles recognizable from From my sample, manga seems to educational administration. current anime on television. But why this embrace both readers and nonreaders.

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 25 WHO IS READING MANGA? BERGIN you rarely see a student reading manga and more graphic images, the terms are alone. They often can be seen reading in used interchangeably by today’s teens. Favorite Manga of groups and discussing what they have I have learned several things from Niskayuna High School read. Perhaps the short length of the this small survey. One of the lessons students books allows for more shared experiences should have been obvious—be aware of to discuss, but their reading has a sense of building a balanced collection reflecting ● Naruto—Masashi Kishimoto camaraderie about it. While many teach- the interests of all your users and poten- ● Inu-Yasha—Rumiko Takahashi ers look down at graphic novels, I’m not tial users. Just because the girls were the ● Rurouni Kenshin—Nokuhiro sure we can dismiss something that has most vocal does not mean they were the Watsuki our students critically and enthusiastically only ones reading. I had the evidence in ● Only the Ring Finger Knows— discussing what they are reading. my circulation reports as well that the Satoru Kannagi, Hotaru Odagiri But perhaps where it got most boys books were moving too, and they ● Mars—Fuyumi Soryo interesting was when I asked students were underrepresented. ● Gravitation—Maki Murakami for their favorite three manga series. Of I also learned that my instinct was ● Fruits Basket—Natuki Takaya the top fifteen titles suggested we only right. There are three basic groups read- ● Ceres, Celestial Legend—Yu had nine of them in the school media ing them, and I had pretty accurately Watase center. When you went further out on pegged those groups. One question I ● Pretear—Junichi Satou, Kaori the list even more titles I had never could have asked is if there had been any Naruse heard of appeared. I knew there was an change in their other library habits since (Note: not all of these series elaborate network of manga-sharing they began coming in for manga. Did are held by the high school or would going on of which the library was only the manga lead them to other library be appropriate for a high school part, but obviously many of the students resources? I know several of them have library.) were getting books from outside sources. built wonderful relationships with Linda, Some of the titles suggested were the one of our paraprofessionals, who has shojo titles in our collection, while oth- become extremely well read in manga. kinetic learners, more likely some type ers reflected a more shonen (young For those students, I know they have one of visual or spatial learners. Considering boys) preference such as Naruto or Yu more adult in the school they feel they the number that said that they did not Yu Hakusho. What I had not expected can talk to. like math and that none reported any though was the interest in shonen-ai I still have a nagging suspicion that affinity for music, two known learning (boy love) series. Shonen-ai are char- there is more here to be researched. I connections, maybe there is another area acterized by a fairly innocent, romantic suspect there is something in how these of literacy to be explored here. I currently male-male relationship and are targeted students learn that makes graphic novels have more copies of the survey at our two to appeal to girls. Two of the most appeal to them. If as educators we can tap middle schools to gather more informa- popular for my students are Gravitation into that, we have another way to reach tion, which will hopefully allow me to and Only the Ring Finger Knows. The these students. Unfortunately I know I refine my survey tool and maybe try to term yaoi is sometimes also used in the did not ask the right questions. While the ask the right questions. While manga may United States to describe these titles. students overwhelmingly told me that be recognized as barely more than a fad, Though the yaoi moniker has tradition- they learned “by doing” over “listening” it is leaving a mark on a significant part ally applied to a more mature audience or “reading,” I doubt that they are truly of a generation. ●

Y ARCHIVE? WELCH AND BROWN continued from page 24 The remaining members end up coming BIBLIOGRAPHY Watchmen together to discover the who and the why Hahn, Joel. “Comics Award Almanac.” Allan Moore, Dave Gibbons. behind it all, and the payoff to the mys- Accessed May 26, 2005, http://users.rcn. com/aardy/comics/awards. tery is most satisfactory. DC Comics, 1995. Lavin, Michael R. “Comic Books for Young ISBN: 0930289234 Adults.” Accessed May 26, 2005, http:// The central story in Watchmen: We hope you find this anecdote/ ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/lml/ apparently someone is killing off or guide helpful and entertaining. Good luck comics/pages. discrediting the former Crimebusters. with all your endeavors! ●

26 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS SCHOOL/PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE Japan Comes to Elizabeth, New Jersey A Week of Japanese Entertainment for Teens Kimberly Paone

t a Teen Advisory Council pany to see what would be available to of fruit or chocolate, but otherwise, I fig- meeting in late fall 2004, show under our contract. There were ured we’d just have fun being surprised! the discussion came around five anime films listed: Cowboy Bebop, Thirty or so dollars later, I had a bulging to spring break 2005. At Millennium Actress, Princess Mononoke, bag of goodies that also included shrimp the time, the library’s audi- Spirited Away, and Tokyo Godfathers. and soybean-flavored chips and wasabi Atorium was being remodeled, and the Because Cowboy Bebop is rated R, we peas. A quick trip to Sam’s Club for a teens were getting tired of having their had our four selections. Fortunately, the case of green tea, and I was ready to feed programs in a makeshift public space in four titles were approved by the hardcore the masses. the library. They were looking forward anime watchers, and I could breathe a A little research was necessary where to when we could return to the fourth sigh of relief. Our library already owned the karaoke was concerned. I had seen floor, spread out, make noise, and watch Spirited Away, so I ordered the remaining Lost in Translation, but I needed some- movies with the volume turned up loud. titles that would be added to our collec- thing more. A trip to a Japanese karaoke That’s when the idea started to form. tion after the showings. bar in New York taught me the protocol: Someone suggested we show some anime. The manga swap and discussion would-be singers visit the bar to obtain Someone else said we should talk about was nothing that had to be carefully a menu of the song titles available and manga. A third mentioned karaoke. Our planned out. On any given day in the fill out a slip of paper with their request. spring break loaded with Japanese enter- Teen Department, manga swapping and (Songs were two dollars each!) Singers tainment was born. discussing could be witnessed, so I knew would then be summoned when it was The preparations began soon after. that this program would take care of their turn. The fancy leather-bound One teen in particular, sixteen-year-old itself. I have been purchasing huge quan- menus and the two-dollar charge would Kamil, a longtime program participant tities of manga for the teen collection for have to be forfeited, but a photocopied and huge anime and manga fan, was several years, so I really just needed to title list and the sign-up papers were easy extremely excited and began lending make sure that we were up to date with enough to do. me anime features and previews from the latest releases. Karaoke CD+Gs can be purchased his own collection. He was practically As March drew nearer, I started to for about the price of a regular CD at counting down the days until March. become concerned about the Japanese Toys ‘R’ Us, and stores like Best Buy. One We decided that we would have one snacks I had promised. The wonderful drawback is that music being played on program per day during the week of salad bar at the Korean deli down the the radio right now is not yet available spring break (six days total since we’re street featured California rolls, so I spoke closed on Sundays): four evenings of to the owner and arranged for a spe- anime, one manga swap and discussion cial order of bite-size pieces with a side Kimberly Paone is a 2000 gradu- and “An Afternoon in Tokyo” featuring of wasabi and packages of soy sauce. I ate of the School of Information, Japanese snacks and karaoke. “Karaoke went to an Asian market near home and Communication and Library Science machine” was added to the top of my found a huge package of chopsticks for at Rutgers University and has been Christmas list. next to nothing (the kids ended up tak- working at the Elizabeth (N.J.) Public After the holidays, the pressure ing home the extras as souvenirs). Then Library for nearly five years. Kimberly is very involved with the New Jersey was on to choose the anime that would I made a special trip to Manhattan to a Library Association’s YA Section be featured. Everyone had his or her little second-floor Japanese supermarket and YALSA. She has served on YALSA’s favorites, and although I am an anime called Sunrise Mart. I quickly found the Best Books for Young Adults Committee fan, I was worrying about the preview- snack aisle and filled my basket with all and Outreach for Young Adults with ing time that this decision was going to kinds of brightly colored, unidentifiable Special Needs Committee and is cur- rently a member of the Michael L. take. Luckily, I remembered to check the candies. Some were marked with pictures Printz Award Committee. Web site of our movie licensing com- of Hello Kitty and others had drawings

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 27 JAPAN COMES TO ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY PAONE on CD+G, so the teens have to content view an aging actress who takes them on least. Gravitation made both the best and themselves with music from last sum- an amazingly cinematographic journey worst lists. There was a very interesting mer and fall. The karaoke machine I got through her life. The interview chronicles discussion regarding the gay relationship for Christmas is the MTV STVG-988. It her lifelong search for a man she met in Gravitation, and seventeen-year-old has two microphones (for duets!) and and aided when she was a girl. Many of Steve made a very passionate case for a seven-inch black and white screen for the teens were disappointed with this the series stating: “It’s about love and reading the lyrics. It has a pretty strong film’s ending but were impressed with the stalking. It doesn’t matter who he is or speaker but a very weak camera. uniqueness of its art and design. One teen that he’s a guy.” He seemed to convince The preparations were complete, the pointed out that he was glad that this one sixteen-year-old Brandon (who had only word was spread among the anime and was subtitled, not dubbed. read the first one or two books) to give it manga-loving teens, and the time had Princess Mononoke (Rated PG-13) another try. finally come. So did the rain. About half is a film I had shown previously at the After about an hour, as the discus- of the week was plagued with horrible, library, yet some of the fifteen students in sion waned, we watched a couple of flood-inducing storms, and because 95 attendance had never seen it. This movie’s anime previews to finish out the after- percent of our teens rely on their own dubbing boasts a long list of Hollywood noon, but not before I gathered a nice two feet to get them to programs, our stars including Billy Crudup, Billy Bob long list of soon-to-be-released manga attendance was certainly affected. Thornton, Claire Danes, and Minnie titles to order for the collection and an The fourteen teens who showed up to Driver, but something seems to have even longer list of anime to purchase see Tokyo Godfathers on Monday evening been lost in the translation. The story is (everything from Castle in the Sky to Full were early, and I could tell that noth- somewhat difficult to follow but features Metal Panic). ing (not even torrential rain) was going a tough girl princess who has been raised Finally the big day had arrived to keep them away. These were anime by wolves, a brave young man, some and with it, more rain. But the karaoke devotees. Some had seen the film, some talking animals, and lots of crazy, creepy machine was hooked up to project the hadn’t. All were riveted to the screen. creatures. The teens were already talking lyrics on the big screen and blast music Tokyo Godfathers (Rated PG-13) is the about karaoke as they left this movie. out of our sound system, the snacks story of three homeless people (a middle- The rainy Friday afternoon of spring were out, ready to be devoured—and aged man, a washed-up drag queen, and break turned out not to be the best time twenty-five slightly soggy teenagers came a teenaged girl) who find an abandoned for our manga swap and discussion. Only through the door. We had a blast! Only baby on Christmas Eve. The three don’t nine students attended, but that did not nine of the teens could get up the courage exactly get along but decide to find the slow down the debates over what are the to actually sing, but the others had just as baby’s parents, and they set off on quite best manga and what are the worst! I emp- much fun being audience members. They an adventure. The film is in Japanese, sub- tied a few shelves of the books onto a cart, all enjoyed trying out the Japanese snacks titled in English, and is at times humor- we spread them out on the floor inside and learning how to use chopsticks. We ous, at other times, poignant. As they filed our circle of chairs, and several students had a drawing for an authentic Japanese out at the end of the movie, I heard only brought their own stash from home. No manga, and we were even serenaded in positive comments, and plans being made one was willing to trade, as I had feared Japanese by Brandon who has started to attend the next night. but expected, but they were certainly will- learning the language. Spirited Away (Rated PG) was a ing to show off their collections. Kamil About the week’s activities, sixteen- movie that more of the eighteen teens in passed around a copy of Mars in Polish year-old Ruth said, “I loved it, but I wish attendance on Tuesday had seen previ- that he picked up while he was visiting that we explored a wider spectrum of ously. It is the story of a ten-year-old family in Europe the previous summer. Japanese culture—not just mainstream.” girl whose parents upset the gods by He shared with us some interesting anec- They’ve already started planning the next eating their food, and she has to enter a dotes about manga in Poland—according week of events like this one (and there very strange world to try to rescue them. to Kamil, the books are not available in will certainly be a repeat performance This film was dubbed in English, but in comic book stores, only gaming stores, in the summer) which could include my opinion, the creepiness factor alone and pretty much all of the titles that are origami, a martial arts demonstration should give it a PG-13 rating. The float- available here in English are available there and maybe a tutorial on how to make a ing, slime-spewing monsters, the giant in Polish. Another student mentioned that Japanese food dish. Hopefully we won’t baby and his wart-laden mother, the dis- one could purchase manga in other lan- have any rain. embodied, rolling heads were almost too guages on TokyoPop.com. For your own week of Japanese much for me—but the teens sat wide- The members of the group seemed entertainment, here’s what you’ll need: eyed and rapt through every scene. to like Hana-Kimi, Love Hina, Chronicles Most surprising was Millennium of the Cursed Sword, Ranma 1/2, and ● Anime films (approximately twenty Actress (Rated PG), a film within a film Silent Mobius the most. They liked to thirty dollars each unless you can where a reporter and cameraman inter- Pretear, Wedding Peach, and Ragnarok the borrow them from a teen)

28 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS PAONE JAPAN COMES TO ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY

candy and chips at Sunrise Mart, ● Viewing rights (price varies) Nakajo, Hisaya. Hana-Kimi. Viz Communica- fifteen dollars for California rolls, ● Snacks and drinks for each pro- tions, 2004. gram [I couldn’t afford Japanese twelve dollars for green tea) Satou, Junichi. Pretear. ADV, 2004. snacks for every day of the week so ● Chopsticks (two dollars) Takahashi, Rumiko. Ranma 1/2. Viz Commu- we had chips or cookies and juice ● Napkins, plates, cups nications, 2003. Tomita, Sukehiro. Wedding Peach. Viz Com- during the week and saved all the ● Japanese manga prize (five dollars— munications, 2003. Japanese food for Saturday. I spent purchased at Sunrise Mart) about fifty dollars on the American HAVE FUN! ● DVDs snacks.] Castle in the Sky, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, DVD, ● Manga from your shelves for the dis- 125 min., Walt Disney Video, 2003. cussion (free) BIBLIOGRAPHY Full Metal Panic, dir. unknown, DVD, 100 ● Karaoke machine (free if you put it Manga min., ADV Films, 2003. on your Christmas list, otherwise Akamatsu, Ken. Love Hina. Los Angeles: Millennium Actress, dir. Satoshi Kon, DVD, 87 one hundred eighty-nine dollars for TokyoPop, 2002. min., Dreamworks Video, 2003. the model I mentioned) Asamiya, Kia. Silent Mobius. Viz Communica- Princess Mononoke, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, DVD, tions, 1999. 134 min., Miramax, 2000. ● Karaoke CD+Gs (ten to twenty dol- Beop-Ryung, Yeo. Chronicles of the Cursed Spirited Away, dir. Hayao Miyazaki, DVD, 125 lars each) Sword. Los Angeles: TokyoPop, 2003. min., Walt Disney Video, 2001. ● Printed title lists Lee, Myung-Jin. Ragnarok. Los Angeles: Tokyo Godfathers, dir. Satoshi Kon, DVD, 92 ● Slips of paper for song requests TokyoPop, 2002. min., Sony Pictures, 2003. ● Pens Murakami, Maki. Gravitation. Los Angeles: ● Japanese snacks (thirty dollars for TokyoPop, 2003.

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YALS ● SUMMER 2005 29 SCHOOL/PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE I Got Graphic! Using Visual Literature Works! Jodi Leckbee

n mere moments, my students are transported to Poland in the 1930s, and they, like the main character Vladek, are witnessing the horror of the Holocaust. They Iwatch helplessly as German soldiers hang a group of men on the street; they expe- rience the fear these family members felt because they are there with them and can see it on the expressions of their faces. I repeat they can see it themselves. This is the power of the graphic novel, compel- ling visuals that move literature beyond just a simple collection of words into a form of visual literature. My students are reading a graphic novel called Maus by Art Spiegelman. The image and the text work together on the page, bringing the complicated story of a man and his father, one comic strip frame at a time, to life. I discovered the power of using Sample timeline brochure for Maus. graphic novels in my classroom, not to replace, but rather to enhance the learn- Graphic novels, already popular film to connect with my students. Most ing of literary analysis for my students. with teen readers, act as a bridge allow- students feel this subject matter is far Some educators assume that the art of ing them to transcend the apathy usually removed from them. Using Maus brings great writing is diminished by using felt toward reading assignments. Because them closer to understanding the idea visual images to convey what authors many students are not excited by read- that this kind of crime toward human- so successfully accomplish with words. ing, and peer pressure punishes many ity could happen again. After interacting Thematic structure, the use of metaphor, of those who are, graphic novels have a with the graphic novel, the students will simile, exaggeration, and other literary “cool” factor, and a teen is rarely embar- present what they have learned in the tools, are not abandoned within a graphic rassed to be seen reading one. In fact, form of a brochure. The brochure assign- novel, but rather enhanced by the ethical many teens possess expertise in the area ment on Maus requests that the students underpinning and multicultural perspec- of graphic novels, especially manga, and write about their own lives, thereby tive the artist brings to the table. In many are willing to share their own personal bringing the experience of Holocaust of these novels, students connect visually library and knowledge. Letting students participants directly to them. My inten- and can relate personally to the arche- teach me about the reading they love has tion is to have my students interact with types found within the pages. helped me transfer that same enthusiasm the experiences that the characters in to reading response assignments and the novel survive in an emotional pow- class discussions. I have also found great erful way. The art of the graphic novel Jodi Leckbee has been teaching for ten success by pairing a graphic novel with makes this experience visceral and far years. She is a graduate of Texas Tech other forms of literature to support a more intense. The brochure assignment University. After teaching Theatre Arts thematic unit. asks them to follow one character as for seven years, she is now an English When I teach Maus, I am incorpo- they move throughout the novel as well teacher at Akins High School in Austin, Texas. rating the novel into a larger unit on as compare and contrast themselves to the Holocaust. I like using literature and the character. Students will create diary

30 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS LECKBEE I GOT GRAPHIC!

ferent categories; super hero, fantasy, hor- ror/supernatural, science fiction, humor, crime, real life, historical fiction, myth/ legends, non-fiction, educational and manga. Some of these genres are further divided up into subgenres, illustrating the range of material available. But there is more. I haven’t even fully opened the door to the world of manga. The manga form of the graphic novel is a phenom- enon in well-educated Japanese society, outselling any other form of literature. They have become quite popular in the United States as well and allow a unique opportunity for students to gain a multi- cultural perspective. Manga requires stu- dents to read from the bottom right side of the page to upper left creating oppor- tunities for them to experience reading in a new way. After asking my students to spend time reading several different graphic novel titles, they were given a Multiple Intelligences project to complete on the novel of their choice. With this assignment, I was able to have students think about how graphic novels are writ- ten, the art involved in the process and the thought behind the author’s intent. With many standardized tests intro- ducing a visual component to assessment Maus brochure assignment. and the overload of visual mediums in their everyday lives, the graphic novel is entries for their character based on events actually superheroes? Using superheroes uniquely poised to tap student’s enthu- that occur in the novel. This task requires also gives me the opportunity to discuss siasm and further their learning. Why them to put themselves in the story and genre and subgenre with my students. shouldn’t educators use the power of the give a voice to the pictures they are see- Anyone who believes that all superhero graphic novel to help students become ing. The combination of the images in comics are alike just has not read enough better readers and writers? The multidi- Maus and the video I use in class, Night comics. There are traditional superheroes, mensional nature of comics and graphic and Fog, force my students to visually face modern superheroes, teen superheroes, novels allows teachers to think about the horror of the Holocaust. I stand by teams of superheroes, parodies of super- literature in a new creative way. Exploring the old adage, “Seeing is believing.” heroes, anti-hero superheroes, and even the visual world of graphic novels will When I teach my unit on compas- feminist superheroes. The world of the heighten your students’ interest in read- sion I use the graphic novel Family graphic novel is just as varied as other ing and expand intellectual possibilities Matter written by Will Eisner. I like to forms of literature. As English teachers rather than contract them. A literary partner this reading with the novel Of we should read as much of this genre as piece, like a graphic novel, is calling on Mice and Men by Steinbeck. Eisner, who possible before we can make educated students to use both their analyzing and is considered the father of the graphic decisions about what is appropriate for synthesizing skills, actually requiring more novel, coining the term, writes and illus- our students and our classrooms. involvement and focus in their reading. trates honest human stories that can I started down the road of graphic Therefore, teaching graphic novels pro- easily win over skeptics that believe that novels by teaching an entire unit using vides educators another way to engage the all graphic novels are based on fantasy comic books. I set up a gallery of comic minds of our students. Not unlike the use and superhero formulas. I don’t want to book and graphic novel covers around of film and music in English classrooms, diminish the use of superhero comics in the room. The number of distinct genres graphic novels should be acknowledged as an English class; however, what better way found today surprised my students. Just a valuable learning tool. Sometimes you to teach the Hero Cycle than by using like fiction, graphic novels have many dif- just have to see it to believe it. ●

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 31 SCHOOL/PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSPECTIVE Get Animated @ your library® Kristin Fletcher-Spear and Merideth Jenson-Benjamin

he Glendale (Ariz.) Public meeting, as it was usually a multihour Library! Teen Summer Reading Program Library (GPL) has had a ordeal, boring for the kids, and rather like 2005” as this summer’s theme. summer reading program herding cats for the adults. Our teens really got into karaoke, (SRP) specifically for teens In order to liven things up, this year even though it gave Kristin a massive for the past seventeen years. the teen librarians in charge of the Teen headache. The quietest girl of all three TThe past three years, the individual teen Library Councils, Greg Kinder, Kristin councils belted out a JoJo song. One library councils (TLC) from our three Fletcher-Spear, and Merideth Jenson- teen boy entered someone else’s name branches met in January to discuss the Benjamin, decided to have an after-hours for karaoke so they both sang a duet of teen summer reading program. The teens party held at our centrally located Main “Sugar, Sugar.” An extremely off-key fal- recommended the theme of the program branch. Our party was by invitation only setto rendition of “I Believe in a Thing and the format. Although our TLCs for TLC members, each of whom could Called Love” by a group of male TLC are notorious for making outlandish or bring one guest. In order to cut down members drove both teens and librarians unworkable suggestions, most of the time on uninvited participants, we held the from the room. we are able to accommodate our teens’ event on a Saturday night after the library But soon we had to reel them back requests. But for the first time, this year had locked its doors to everyone else. in to discuss the program setup. In the the teens planned it all. We mixed business with pleasure, taking past, the teens only suggested the for- Prior to the three TLCs meeting turns singing karaoke, eating pizza and mat, and the teen staff made the final together, each council met individu- ice cream, and discussing the reading decision in the matter. Again, the handy ally to brainstorm ideas for themes and program. After a rather horrifying group dandy PowerPoint was very useful for prizes. Past joint meetings of the three rendition of “Summer Nights” from working our way through the six plans councils have been held on a Saturday Grease and some pizza, the librarians we were suggesting to the teens. The afternoon, and fortified with snacks and showcased the goals of a summer reading plans we discussed were the following: an icebreaker that the teens groaned at, program and of the night using a handy Reading Records, Review System, Auction but enjoyed immensely, the kids would dandy three-part PowerPoint presenta- Method, Genre Method (also known as hammer out a program theme and make tion that covered the goals of an SRP, Book Bingo), Prize/Drawing Method, suggestions about the format and admin- theme ideas, and program format ideas. and the Combo Platter, a combination istration of the program. Although the We emphasized to the teens that the pro- of the previous five methods. Each plan snacks were popular, neither the teens gram had to appeal to a wide age range had the positives and negatives noted. nor the librarians looked forward to this (twelve through eighteen) and needed to It was particularly important to impress be simple for the staff to administer. upon the teens the benefits of simplic- After the PowerPoint on SRP themes, ity. When working with our councils Kristin Fletcher-Spear is the teen the councils broke down into groups to in a large group setting, they have the librarian at the Foothills Branch Library brainstorm new theme ideas. Of course, tendency to take a straightforward idea in Glendale, Arizona. She received both her BA and MLS degrees from Indiana the librarians had to provide param- and then build upon it until it becomes University (IU). She was introduced to eters and had veto power over the teens’ completely unworkable. We had to make graphic novels at IU by reading Maus suggestions. Otherwise, we would have it clear to the teens that any ideas involv- for a literature class. Now she’s able inappropriate themes with cuss words or ing elaborate equipment setups such as to use her love of graphic novels, par- that were sexual in nature. Our personal giant prize wheels, slot machines, or liv- ticularly manga, every day at work with the teens. One day, Merideth Jenson- favorite suggestions that were vetoed this ing chess games were not viable; nor were Benjamin—librarian, mother, and super- year were: “Is that a book in your pocket complicated registration and tracking goddess—woke up and discovered she or are you happy to see me?” and “Books methods involving databases, tally sheets, was a rampaging comics geek. She Gone Wild.” We enjoyed imagining the or anything else requiring special training has no idea how this came to be since SRP art for that suggestion. An image of for staff. it was never a goal or even a dimly realized ambition. Merideth holds two a book, its title pixilated out, the book The teens surprised us by picking degrees from the University of Arizona, jacket slipping off or an animated image the Combo Platter and being inventive an MLS and a BA in women’s studies. online of a book flashing its pages at the in their setup. They chose to keep the She is employed as head chaos genera- viewer were both suggested by the teens. Reading Record-style program, which tor (teen librarian) at Glendale (Ariz.) After three voting turns, the teens finally GPL has used for the last several years. Public Library. chose “Get Animated! @ Glendale Public This type of program entails teens getting

32 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS FLETCHER-SPEAR AND JENSON-BENJAMIN GET ANIMATED a reading log that has X number of pages fantastic on a t-shirt. This year’s theme try made these partnerships possible, and hours of reading on it broken down “Get Animated” will be popular with our we would not have thought to contact into blocks. As teens work through the graphic novel and anime enthusiasts, and these companies without the input of log, they receive prizes. It is a very basic it can be expanded in different directions. our teens. If we learned anything from reading program that many libraries use. The nonteen librarians were thrilled working with our teen library councils However, our teens added an innovative because it was a theme they could read on this program, it was to think creatively twist. They liked the idea of the genre and pronounce easily. We, the teen librar- and always consider who you can partner method, but instead of being forced to ians, were thrilled for an entirely different with in order to make the event or pro- read specific genres in order to receive reason, as we are in the process of writing gram the best one possible. prizes, they wanted to make it a bonus a book on graphic novels for VOYA. Our In an especially nice piece of synergy, part of the program. knowledge of the format, combined with the “Get Animated” theme allowed us Once a teen finished a book, the contacts within the comics and anime to further tap into the creativity of our teen’s name was entered in a raffle for the industry, made the possibility of partner- teen library councils. Many of the council appropriate genre prize. At each library, ing with publishers and distributors both members are not only anime and manga we had gift bags correlating to different attractive and possible. fans but also enthusiastic amateur manga genres: historical fiction, horror/thriller, With the theme, we easily saw the artists. One of these artists created our fantasy, science fiction, mystery, romance, connection to graphic novel and anime mascot for the Get Animated program, comics, and free-for-all good-reads. So, companies. We could envision cool art “Danii” named after her creator, Danielle for example, a teen reading the science permissions and great prizes for the teens. Seidner. Danielle provided the line art for fiction manga Planetes could enter in In reality, it took a lot more work than our smiling representative, and a digital the drawing either for the science fiction imagined. First we wrote a letter request- paint job brought her to life. Working prize or the comics prize. At the end of ing donations to several companies with with our teens on the artwork for the the summer, a drawing was held for each whom we had built relationships through summer program added another chance of the genre bags. Through this raffle years of going to comic and anime con- for teens to have input into the program system, teens could continue to read ventions, writing and publishing about and created a new layer of involvement. throughout the summer for chances at graphic novels, attending focus groups As we do every year, we will be pass- genre specific prizes and were encouraged with publishers, being active on anime ing out our program flyer at local schools, to explore different genres. Each teen and comics electronic distribution lists and where we are able, doing a brief pre- staff member took on the task of creating and Web sites and being truly geeky fans sentation about our SRP. Our program a gift bag using a budget of fifty dollars of the format. While these working rela- flyer includes information about the teen with a little extra from the book budget tionships made us comfortable approach- SRP, our events and programming infor- for books. For example, historical fiction ing these companies about being mation, and a booklist of graphic novels, could be things from different decades. sponsors, it still took time to make a let- an expanded version of which we have The fantasy gift bag could include a gift ter professional and to the point. We sent included at the end of this article. This certificate to a popular role playing game the letter to several companies and had a summer we expect to have over eighteen (RPG) and miniatures gaming store, and good response. ADV Films, DC Comics, hundred teens sign up for the reading the romance bag could include chocolate Broccoli International, FUNimation, program, and approximately six hundred and candles. A comics and manga gift bag Viz, Dark Horse Comics, Slave Labor teens finish the program. We want to was enthusiastically endorsed by the TLC Graphics and Oni Press all agreed to act thank our program sponsors for support- members, since like many teens, most are as sponsors for “Get Animated,” in addi- ing our teens and library. Without them, rabid manga and graphic novel fans. The tion to local sponsors including restau- we would be unable to do the program combination of reading record and genre rants, movie theatres, and comic book the teens envisioned. drawings made the librarians excited stores. The response to our inquiries was Planning a reading program with about the reading program and proud truly amazing! These partnerships pro- teens can be a challenging and chaotic of the teens for their hard work. So we vided both the library and the sponsor- experience. Mix in karaoke, some devoted celebrated with ice cream bars and more ing companies with great opportunities. manga, anime and comics fans, and librar- karaoke. Kristin’s headache was eventu- We were able to receive prizes we could ians willing to try anything once, and you ally relieved by medication but flared up never have afforded for our teens, and the have a recipe for disaster or a chance to again around the time the group sang sponsoring companies got their names in try something completely new and inno- along to “Without Me.” the hands of teens through SRP handouts vative. With a little luck, some creative Last year’s SRP theme “PH34R M% at area schools and at our library. Also of networking, and the hard work of both the L337 R34D1N 5K1LL5!”—“Fear my leet benefit to our sponsors was the library’s teen staff and the teen library councils at [elite] reading skills,” per MegaTokyo not-for-profit status, which allowed them Glendale Public Library, we were able to speak—was popular because no one to use any donation to us as a tax write- plan and produce a teen summer reading could read it or explain it, but it looked off. While our connections in the indus- program that met the request of teens and

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 33 GET ANIMATED FLETCHER-SPEAR AND JENSON-BENJAMIN satisfied the goals of the library. It will be Togashi, Yoshihiro. Yu Yu Hakusho with the customers and provide con- hard to top this for next summer, but we (series). San Francisco: VIZ, 2003–. versation while continually filling the are sure we will manage. When Yusuke dies while perform- glasses. Her hostess job leads to some ing a selfless act, the afterlife doesn’t very amusing situations. Recommended Reading know what to do with him. So they Lash, Bratton. Supernatural Law (series). offer him a chance to come back to San Diego, Calif: Exhibit A Pr., 2000–. Those titles marked with an asterisk (*) life and become a spiritual detec- Where do the things that go bump in are intended for older teens. tive investigating supernatural or the night go for legal representation? spiritual issues on earth for the king To Wolfram and Hart, Counselors of Action of hell; which usually means Yusuke the Macabre, the stars of this fantasti- will end up fighting more than just cally funny small press gem. Full of Anzai, Nobuyuki. Flame of Recca (series). humans. pop-culture references and some really San Francisco: VIZ, 2003–. bad puns, this series might require Recca has a dream—to be a ninja, Comedy pushing but will find a loyal audience. not a very realistic dream for some- Takaya, Natsuki. Fruits Basket (series). one living in contemporary Tokyo. Azuma, Kiyohiko. Azumanga Daioh Los Angeles: TokyoPop, 2004–. But one day unexpectedly he discov- Vol. 1–4. Houston: ADV Manga, After Tohru Honda is discovered ers that he has powers of his own! 2003–2004. living in a tent on their property, Flame of Recca is a ninja action The story of a group of high school the Sohma family invites her to live story that focuses on friendships and girls and their hilarious day-to-day with them. She’s happy to cook and elemental powers. Another ninja school life are told through a series clean for them, but things get hilari- graphic novel series to check out is of four panel comic strips. While ously sticky when she accidentally Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. thoroughly entertaining and humor- discovers their family secret—when Jae-Won, Lim. The Boss (series). ous, the story also is heartwarm- hugged by members of the oppo- Houston: ADV Manga, 2004. ing in showing the friendships one site sex they transform into their Sang Tae, a sophomore and powerful makes during the school years. Chinese zodiac animal. fighter who only fights when neces- Baker, Kyle. Plastic Man: On the Lam. sary, is respected despite his youth. New York: DC Comics, 2004. Drama and Realistic Fiction Guk Do, a thug who has recently Well-known artist Baker’s reinven- returned to school, attempts to tion of the 1940s hero is relentlessly Adachi, Misturu. Short Program Vol. 1 regain control. Sang Tae is placed in silly and packed with endless sight and 2. San Francisco: VIZ, 2004. the middle of things right away in gags. Baker’s idiosyncratic artwork Adachi proves his mastery of short this kung-fu title. style works wonders here, as this stories in these volumes. While the Oda, Eiichiro. One Piece (series). San trade paperback (TPB) is a treasure black and white art is an older, sim- Francisco: VIZ, 2003–. chest of visual humor. plistic style, the stories told are inter- This hilarious action series focuses Clugston-Major, Chynna. Blue Monday national and timeless. Whether it is a on Monkey D. Luffy, and his pirate (series). Portland, Ore.: Oni Pr., repairman fixing a stereo for the girl crew on their search for the treasure 2000. he likes or the supertall student who One Piece. Since Luffy ate the cursed Northern California teens mix it up celebrates his track star friend’s suc- Gum-Gum Fruit, he has special rub- in this late ’80s set series. A parody cess, Adachi captures the characters’ bery powers, but now he can’t swim! of the raunchy teen sex comedies of emotions at major moments in their And how can you be a pirate without the era, Blue Monday boasts strong lives. The stories will warm the read- swimming! The crew and their belief female protagonists, clean manga- ers’ hearts with their dramatic touches in Luffy keep this ship of a graphic inspired artwork, and the added of human life and relationships. novel series floating along. bonus of soundtrack suggestions for *Clowes, Daniel. Ghost World. Seattle, *Rucka, Greg. Queen and Country (series). each scene. Wash.: Fantagraphics, 2001. Portland, Ore.: Oni Pr., 2002–. Kobayashi, Makoto. Club Nine (series). A series of short vignettes detail- Featuring the burnt out and Milwaukee, Wis.: Dark Horse ing the end of a friendship between amoral “minder” Tara Chase, this Comics, 2003. two alienated and foul-mouthed surprisingly topical series offers Harou is a lovable, klutzy country teen girls, this book received a lot a warts-and-all view of interna- bumpkin, who has left everything of attention when the eponymous tional espionage. Artwork aping the and everybody she knows to attend movie debuted. The graphic novel European style of realistic back- college in Tokyo. She works at a bar is equally worth checking out as it grounds and cartoony characters called Club 9 as a hostess to pay for features solid writing and interesting gives this series a distinctive look. her apartment. In Japan, hostesses sit three-toned art.

34 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS FLETCHER-SPEAR AND JENSON-BENJAMIN GET ANIMATED

Ikezawa, Satomi. Othello (series). New In this new series using many old ten for girls, a romance blossoms York: Del Ray, 2004–. and familiar characters, CLAMP during a chance meeting at a hot Split personalities come to life in uses a method typically only seen spring introducing a man named this manga series. Yaya is a sweet in the superhero genre of American Shuri to Sarasa. Little do they know high school girl who secretly loves to comics—the crossover. Sakura and that they are meeting the one per- costume play or “cosplay.” (Cosplay Syaoran from Cardcaptor Sakura are son that they would do anything to refers to fans who dress up as anime, back but not as cardcaptors. Sakura destroy—Tarata and the Red King. manga, or video game characters. is the Princess of Clow and Syaoran Watase, Yu. Alice 19th Vol. 1–7. San Often, they will re-enact scenes dur- is her childhood friend. When Francisco: VIZ, 2003–2004. ing masquerade competitions at Sakura enters an archeological dig In this fantasy set in modern-day anime conventions.) Yaya’s friends site, a mystical occurrence causes all Tokyo, Alice learns that words have are cruel and abusive. Whenever Yaya of Sakura’s memories and thus her power. When she says that she wishes gets angry and sees her reflection, life force to leave her body and be her sister would disappear, her sister she becomes Nana, the tough and flung through multiple dimensions. does just that. Mayura disappears confident personality. With the help of Yuko, the space- into her soul that has become cor- Thompson, Craig. Blankets. Marietta, time witch, Syaoran, Sakura, and two rupted with hatred. Now Alice and Ga.: Top Shelf, 2003. other adventurers, Fai and Kurogane, her friends must become Lotus mas- The story of an introverted young travel through the dimensions to ters, those who control the power of man’s first love and his voyage of retrieve Sakura’s memories one by words, to save Mayura from her cor- self-discovery, this quiet TPB touches one. This series is recommended for rupted soul. everyone who reads it. Soft-edged collections that already have CLAMP *Willingham, Bill. Fables (series). New black and white artwork contributes material. York: DC Comics, 2002–. to the lyrical and sad story. *Gaiman, Neil. Sandman: Endless Nights. Having been driven from their *Kim, Derek Kirk. Same Difference and New York: Vertigo Comics, 2003. homes by a nameless Adversary, the Other Stories. Marietta, Ga.: Top Acting as both a coda and intro- residents of the fairytale lands have Shelf, 2004. duction to the Sandman series, taken up residence in an apartment Simon and his friend Nancy, two Endless Nights tells one story for building in New York City. Focusing Korean-American, San Francisco- each of eight siblings: Endless, mostly on Vice-Mayor Snow White area twenty-somethings, return to Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, and house detective Bigby Wolf, this Simon’s hometown of Pacifica, and Despair, Destruction, and Delirium. TPB series manages to both mock Simon ends up reminiscing about his Illustrated by a who’s-who of comic and honor fairytale conventions. high school days. Not much happens artists, this mature readers’ title will in this quiet graphic novel, but the whet your appetite for the rest of the Historical Fiction unique perspective and clean art- Sandman series. work will win you over. Irwin, Jane. Vögelein: Clockwork Faerie. *Cruse, Howard. Stuck Rubber Baby. New *Yoshida, Akimi. Banana Fish (series). Ann Arbor, Mich.: Fiery Studios, York: DC Comics, 2001. San Francisco: VIZ, 2004–. 2003. The racial tensions of the 1960s New York, 1985: Youth gang leader This lyrically drawn, well-written come to life in this overlooked Ash Lynx receives an address and comic is about an automaton who graphic crime novel. As one young drug samples from a dying man has become more than the sum man joins the fight for racial equal- whose last words are “Banana Fish.” of her parts, and her search for a ity, he comes to terms with his own Behind this mysterious drug is a vio- new life mate is a small press gem. sexuality. Gorgeous, evocative art- lent conspiracy that involves not only Difficult to find, this TPB’s rich tap- work brings the period and the char- the mafia and the Chinese Triad, but estry of urban fantasy and historical acters to life. begins with the U.S. Government. fiction is worth seeking out. Eisner, Will. A Contract with God and One of the most well-known and Tamura, Yumi. Basara (series). San other Tenement Stories. New York: beloved shojo titles of the 80s, with Francisco: VIZ, 2003–. DC Comics, 1996. shonen-ai undertones, it is has cross- Set in the distant future, Sarasa must It could be argued that Will Eisner over appeal for both sexes. lead her people and become the invented modern comics, and this Child of Destiny after the Red King’s collection of short stories set in a Fantasy army kills her twin brother Tarata. Jewish tenement in the 1930s shows Now masquerading as Tarata, Sarasa the master at the top of his game. CLAMP. Tsubasa: RESERVoir must find the strength to protect her Semi-autobiographical and beauti- CHRoNICLE (series). New York: Del people and take revenge upon the fully drawn, this book belongs in all Ray, 2004–. Red King. Since this is a manga writ- public library collections.

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 35 GET ANIMATED FLETCHER-SPEAR AND JENSON-BENJAMIN

Gaiman, Neil. 1602. New York: Marvel fighter. Together they have many for horror fans. Mignola uses clean Comics, 2004. adventures fighting those who want and spare art to illustrate a world Yes, it has superheroes. But it also has to bring back the samurai and the where the supernatural is not only an incredibly realistic Elizabethan feudal lord system. possible, but also expected. setting, an intricate, yet compre- Niles, Steve. 30 Days of Night. San Diego, hensible plot, and some of the most Horror Calif.: Idea & Design Works, LLC, textured and realistic comic art to be 2003. found today. To tell too much would Hirano, Kohta. Hellsing (series). A unique Alaskan setting and some ruin the experience of this surprising Milwaukee, Wis.: Dark Horse refreshingly angst-free, nonroman- and engaging title. Comics, 2002–. tic vampires give a classic horror Kobayashi, Motofumi. Apocalypse Meow Hellsing, England’s secret organiza- setup—a small town invaded by Vol. 1–3. Houston: ADV Manga, tion for fighting of the monsters of vampires with slim hope of human 2004. the world has an ultimate weapon survival—new life. Gory artwork, This series follows an American against the things that go bump in which perfectly matches the blood- reconnaissance team in Vietnam. the night—Alucard, a loyal vampire. stained story, earmarks this one for Using anthropomorphic characters, A visually stunning graphic novel the strong of stomach. the Americans are rabbits, and the that is fun, violent, and not too scary. Whedon, Joss. Fray. Milwaukie, Ore.: Vietnamese are portrayed as cats. *Hyung, Min-Woo. Priest Vol. 1–15. Los Dark Horse Comics, 2003. Ranging from scouting for an ammu- Angeles: TokyoPop, 2002–. Melinka, a young girl with unusual nition dump to the Tet Offensive to Ivan, an ex-priest who sold his soul strength and speed, is told she is the the team’s R & R in Saigon, each one- to a devil called Belial, is the only Chosen One who will fight the blood shot chapter focuses on the missions thing standing in the way of the sucking Lurks. Even nonfans of Buffy and wartime issues the team faces dark lord Temozarela’s resurrec- the Vampire Slayer will find much to together. The black and white art is tion. Starting in the American Wild like about this future slayer tale. phenomenally realistic. It’s a war film West but truly encompassing the come to life, if war films had rabbits Inquisition through contemporary Mystery and cats fighting. times, Ivan fights for humanity’s sur- Tezuka, Osamu. Buddha Vol. 1-4. New vival with silver bullets while fighting Aoyama, Gosho. Case Closed (series). San York: Vertical, 2003–. Belial for control over his own soul. Francisco: VIZ, 2004–. Fictionalized characters and stories Due to the ultra-violent nature of Jimmy Kudo, top-rate teen detective are intertwined with the biogra- the series, this title is recommended trailing after some men in black, is phy of Siddhartha, the prince who for high school and up. captured and given an experimental becomes Buddha. One of Tezuka’s Ito, Junji. Uzumaki: Spiral into Horror poison that instead of killing him more mature masterpieces, the series Vol. 1–3. San Francisco: Viz, 2001– shrinks him to a first grader’s body! brings the world of long ago India 2002. Now using the pseudonym Conan to life with action and humor. There Recently Kurozu-cho, a small town Edogawa, Jimmy is tracking the men is nontitillating imagery of slaves on the coast of Japan, has become a in black one case at a time in search and pariahs without clothing, but weird Mecca for spiral-obsessed and for an antidote. it is realistic to the times portrayed. possessed individuals. The stories *Bendis, Brian Michael. Powers (series). Although this series was published are interconnected, each one depict- Fullerton, Calif.: Image Comics, for adults, teens interested in ing yet another incident of spiral- 2000–. Buddhism will want to pick it up. induced madness, which ends giving In a world where superbeings fight Watsuki, Nobuhiro. Rurouni Kenshin readers chills down their spine. With climactic battles in the sky, two (series). San Francisco: VIZ, 2003–. the characters drawn like realistic everyday detectives do their jobs, Once known as Hitokiri Battosai, Japanese teens, the setting in every- patrolling the world of the Powers. an assassin during the Bakumatsu day places, and the usage of black, A germinal crimes and capes story, period, Kenshin is a wandering white and grays, this trilogy brings Powers is notable not only for its swordsman who now protects oth- Twilight Zone creepiness to life. powerful writing, but also for being ers with his reverse blade sword and Mignola, Michael. Hellboy (series). the first mature readers comic to will not kill. Kenshin soon meets Milwaukie, Ore.: Dark Horse employ a distinctive style of ani- up with the other characters of this Comics, 1997. mated art. long-standing manga, Kaoru—a While it may require a willing sus- *Rucka, Greg. Whiteout: Melt. Portland, swordswoman; Yahiko—a young pension of disbelief (reanimated Ore.: Oni Pr., 2000. boy filled with the Samurai Pride; Nazis! Rasputin! Frog-men!), this Federal Marshall Connie Stetko and Sanosuke—a rough and tough Lovecraft-inspired series is pure gold was banished to Antarctica for past

36 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS FLETCHER-SPEAR AND JENSON-BENJAMIN GET ANIMATED

screw-ups. Now, she is offered a not really this nice girl; she’d much her operating system has been wiped chance to get off the ice, but only rather be reading get-rich schemes clean and Chi has strong firewalls if she’s willing to betray those who than a classic, but she’s great at put- protecting her from anybody trying trust her. A tightly plotted, well- ting on airs. Now in high school, to learn about her. Hideki quickly written international mystery, this she is all ready to be in the spotlight realizes that beneath her childlike follow-up to the first Whiteout TPB until Arima gets there first! She sees behavior lies something more power- features some of the best synergy him as her archrival and when he ful than persocoms should have. between art and text to be found in finds out her real personality, she’d Gatou, Shouji. Full Metal Panic (series). comics. do anything to destroy him. That is Houston: A.D. Vision, 2003–. Kanari, Yozaburo. Kindaichi Case Files until he confesses his love to her. MITHRIL, an antiterrorist organiza- Vol. 1–12. Los Angeles: TokyoPop, Van Meeter, Jen. Hopeless Savages (series). tion, has assigned Sosuke to protect 2003–2004. Portland, Ore.: Oni Pr., 2002. Chidori, a kidnapping target for vari- Hajime Kindaichi is a cocky amateur Punk icons Dirk Savage and Nikki ous terrorist organizations. His job is sleuth with amazing deductive skills. Hopeless settle down in the ’burbs to infiltrate her high school and pre- Each volume is a conclusive mur- to have a family. Now Rat Bastard, tend to be a normal high school guy der mystery and can be read in any Arsenal Fierce, Twitch, and Skank while protecting her, but that turns order. The well-designed mysteries Zero are grown, with trials and trib- out to be too difficult for Sosuke, the cause readers to use both visual clues ulations of their own. A series that gun-toting, war-crazed, teenage mer- in the black and white art and tex- is truly about love—love between cenary! While he protects Chidori tual clues in the writing to solve the parents and children, between broth- from various minor attacks such as murder mystery. Readers who like ers and sisters, between boys and guys trying to ask her out, Chidori traditional whodunits will fall hard girls, between boys and boys—uses tries to keep peace at her school and for this mystery series. punk imagery and language to hide a to keep Sosuke from blowing any- warm and fuzzy core. thing else up! Romance Watson, Andi. Love Fights (series). TenAppel, Doug. Creature Tech. Portland, Ore.: Oni Pr., 2004. Marietta, Ga.: Top Shelf, 2002. Mizuki, Hakase. Demon Ororon Vol. 1–4. It’s a story as old as time: comic art- A scientist who long ago traded Los Angeles: TokyoPop, 2004. ist boy meets superhero-obsessed faith for facts is confronted with the One rainy day, Chiaki brings home girl tabloid reporter, boy’s cat gets genuine shroud of Turin, a big blue the injured Ororon, who turns out superpowers, boy and girl fall in love, bug alien, a giant space eel, and a to be the King of Hell. They quickly boy and girl torn apart by superhero reanimated mad scientist circa 1900. fall in love despite their cosmic dif- paternity scandal. Watson invigorates A silly story that masks a mature ferences: he—a demon who kills, the romance comic genre with the discussion of theology and accep- she—a half-angel pacifist. While addition of sly superhero elements tance, complemented by dynamic, everything isn’t always happy, it is and his distinctive angular art. cartoony artwork. always beautiful with the hip art. A Yoshizumi, Wataru. Marmalade Boy Vaughn, Brian K. Y the Last Man (series). slightly different love story that isn’t Vol. 1–8. Los Angeles: Tokyopop, New York: DC Comics, 2003–. all hearts, love, and happiness, there 2002–2003. After everything else with a Y chro- are slayings, political intrigue, and All Miki wants is a normal family, mosome dies, the last surviving demons that eat angels. but that’s not going to happen with male Yorrick Brown must embark *Murakami, Maki. Gravitation (series). her parents divorcing, swapping on a terrifying journey to discover Los Angeles: TokyoPop, 2003–. partners with another couple, and all the cause of the holocaust and to When famous romance novelist Eiri four living under the same roof! But find his true love. This series lives or Yuki criticizes Shuichi’s lyrics for a then she meets Yuu, her new step- dies depending on your willingness new song for his band, Shuichi is brother, and maybe, just maybe, he to accept its premise, and rewards determined to prove him wrong. can ease her pain. readers with unconventional plots Shuichi pushes his way into Yuki’s and a disturbingly believable dys- life and soon their lives entwine Science Fiction topic setting. together, leaving this series as one Watson, Andi. The Complete Geisha. of the most popular shonen-ai *CLAMP. Chobits Vol. 1–8. Los Angeles: Portland, Ore.: Oni Pr., 2003. titles available. TokyoPop, 2003. Jomi is an android, raised as part of Tsuda, Masami. Kare Kano (series). Los Hideki is a student who finds a per- a human family, who wants to be an Angeles: TokyoPop, 2003–. socom, a humanoid computer, in artist. When anti-android prejudice Yukino lives for praise. Seriously, she the trash. After turning her on and keeps her from making a living with works day and night to get it. She’s naming her Chi, he discovers that her paintings, she joins the family

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 37 GET ANIMATED FLETCHER-SPEAR AND JENSON-BENJAMIN

bodyguard business. Art forgery, fam- this beautifully illustrated series is characters, Moore and artist Benedict ily relationships, supermodels and for you. Busiek and his collabora- Dimagmaliw present Victorian giant mechanicals or “mecha” are just tors bring an amazing amount of London in all its squalor, as well as a few elements included in this beau- thoughtful planning to the some- presenting a new twist on a stereo- tifully illustrated title. Mecha refers times-slapdash superhero genre. typical superhero team. to giant robots or piloted armor suits Punkett, Kelly. Batgirl (series). New Rucka, Greg. Wolverine (series.) New York: found in anime or manga. York: DC Comics, 2001–. Marvel Comics, 2004–. Yukimura, Makoto. Planetes (series). Los A mute teenager raised to be the Fanboy favorite and best-known Angeles: TokyoPop, 2003–. perfect assassin must face up to X-Man Logan is given a thoughtful Hachimaki’s dream is to be an astro- her past and embrace an uncertain and thought-provoking makeover in naut exploring the outer limits of future in this relaunch of the Batgirl this TPB series. Lighter on action than space. However, instead of exploring, series. Pitch-perfect characteriza- most Wolverine titles, Rucka looks at he’s an intergalactic garbage man. tions, some of the most expressively what makes this enigmatic character He and his teammates pick up the rendered faces in comics. and a very tick, while creating some strong and space trash mankind has left behind believable teenage heroine make appealing female characters. in their foray into space exploration. these TPB a treat. Winnick, Judd. Green Arrow: Straight The storyline follows these three *Moore. Alan. The League of Shooter. NY: DC Comics, 2004. teammates and their ruminations Extraordinary Gentlemen, vol. 1, Green Arrow, a Silver Age charac- about space. 1898. La Jolla, Calif: America’s Best ter revised by author Kevin Smith, Comics, c2000. comes into his own in this TPB by Superheroes Don’t be fooled by the god-awful Winnick. Sharply written, tightly film adaptation. Moore’s team of plotted, and clearly drawn, this is a Busiek, Kurt. Astro City (series). La Jolla, Victorian crime-fighters, all lifted good standalone title for those inter- Calif.: Homage Comics, 1996–. from fiction of the period, is worth ested in the Emerald Archer. ● If you’ve ever wondered what super- a second look in its original comics heroes are like behind the mask then form. Staying true to the roots of the

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38 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS ��������������������� ���������������������� INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Adult Graphic Novels Readers A Survey in a Montréal Library Olivier Charbonneau

raphic novels have taken The 73,000 LaSalle residents, of nutshell, it asks the three main questions the library world by which 25,113 were active users of the retailers have found to best describe cus- storm. This new format library in 2002, accounted for 262,457 tomers: How recent was your last visit? for sequential or narra- visits and 542,289 loans in that same How frequently do you visit us? How tive art is closer to a book year. At the time of my internship in win- much money do you usually spend? (This Gand thus resolves many problems public ter 2003, the adult collection had more last point I adapted to “How many bande libraries had with comic books, those than 5,500 titles from French Europe, dessinées do you borrow?”) Both French flimsy booklets teenagers love so much. 600 French, and 75 English manga titles and English versions of the survey were Traditional superhero comic book editors (sequential art from Japan) as well as 650 produced, and the latter was reproduced have jumped on the bandwagon, and new English-language graphic novels. As the in the appendix of this article. publishers are heralding a modern, more library holds multiple copies of some A large, colorful display filled with mature age for comics. For example, popular titles, a total of 9,232 documents questionnaires was left near the collec- the Montréal-based Drawn & Quarterly are available in the adult collection. The tion, and smaller but still colorful dis- offers many titles for adult readers (NOT adult sequential art collection represents plays were strategically placed near the sexually explicit). These new narrative about 5 percent of the overall adult col- computer lab, reference, and circulation approaches, coupled with a more practi- lection, but as a component of our circu- desks. Staff were asked to hand one out cal format, have made graphic novels a lation, it accounts for 13 percent of the when users borrowed a bande dessinée. sure hit in public libraries. adult and 11 percent of the overall (adult The survey ran for five weeks (February Having been raised in Québec, and children) borrowing. 13 to March 19, 2003, limited by the I was fascinated at how English-lan- You might have noticed that I focus internship) and we distributed 450 and guage librarians saw the comic book on the adult bande dessinée collection. received 108 valid forms. Statistical valid- and later reacted to the graphic novel There is a separate collection for youth, ity is not confirmed, and some subgroups phenomenon. In fact, “la bande dessi- but initial meetings with the library’s are rather small, but it provides interest- née” (literally: illustrated strips) are as management allowed us to zone in on ing views into the minds of patrons.2 much a part of Québec public libraries their particular needs. After all, I only had as encyclopaedias or novels. These are thirty-six working days over four months full-color, usually glossy-paged hard- for my internship, so we had to deter- The Results bound books called “albums” (think mine precise goals. We opted to survey More men and all ages—Sixty-two per- Tintin, Astérix, the Smurfs—originally the collection’s users. The purpose was to cent of respondents are men, whereas Belgian—and friends). Some institu- identify these patrons’ demographic char- they account for 40 percent of all library tions even boast collections of more acteristics and to determine their satisfac- than ten thousand bandes dessinées for tion with regard to this subcollection. children and adults. It was certainly the main reason I started using my local Olivier Charbonneau is a business library as a teenager, a move that even- Survey Format librarian at Concordia University. As tually lead me to librarianship. a tenure track faculty member, he is interested in the entertainment industry, As my MLIS at the Université de After much discussion, thought, and preparation, the final survey had twenty- primarily digital copyright concerns, as Montréal called for an internship in my well as comic books, graphic novels final semester, I instantly thought of seven questions and fit on two double- and French bande dessinée. He is a studying a bandes dessinée collection. sided legal size pages folded in half, to member of CLA’s and ASTED’s copy- Keeping in mind its role in francophone produce an eight-page booklet (each one right committees and is in the midst of coursework for a master’s in law. Also, culture, finding an interested library manually prepared by this humble ex- intern).1 Banking on my experience in the he is the vice president of the Arts on was rather simple. In fact, the Octogone Paper Society, a nonprofit organiza- Library, in the LaSalle borough of direct marketing industry from my past tion based in Montréal that promotes Montréal, boasts one of the largest collec- life, I used the Recent-Frequent-Money graphic and narrative art. tions on the island. (RFM) model to build my survey. In a

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 39 ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL READERS CHARBONNEAU users. It is largely known that men love ful for collection building and reference. is a clear departure from the classical sequential art, but it shows that we must Youths love manga—Nineteen per- superhero comic book dogma. This will not discount female users as well, with cent of responders stated that they ONLY probably lead to a shift in readership, and a respectable 38 percent of respondents. read manga (Japanese comics such as public libraries should have the foresight For both sexes, 38 percent are aged fifteen Pokémon and Dragon Ball), and they to benefit from this trend. years and younger; 22 percent are sixteen are all younger than thirty! Only about The data collected from this satisfac- to twenty-one; 21 percent are twenty-two 6 percent of those responding were aged tion survey provide key indications of to thirty-nine; and 19 percent are forty thirty or older and admitted reading the wants of a Québec client base, com- and older! It clearly shows that all ages both bande dessinée and mangas. This is fortable with the Franco-Belgian bande indulge in sequential art. an important trend: the western world dessinée tradition. It clearly shows that Draws motivated users—Fifty-nine is only now waking up to the manga this collection is a desired and vibrant percent of those who responded stated that bande dessinée is the main reason If you are considering creating a graphic novel collection in they visit the library, while 85 percent of the sample disclose that they use other your library, build it and they will come! library services (novels and computer phenomenon. In 1995, 40 percent of all part of the Octogone Library. This tool is labs being the most popular). So this col- books and magazines sold in Japan were a definite boon to librarians from all over lection attracts users that fully participate manga! 3 Expect more and more manga North America, especially as it attests to in the institution. On the other hand, 11 in English and French in years to come. the future popularity of English-language percent of those who replied are male Activities for all—Sixty percent graphic novels. In a nutshell, if you are users aged twenty-one or younger who would be interested or very interested in considering creating a graphic novel col- would not have otherwise visited the participating in a club, in conferences, or lection in your library, build it and they library. In this case, this collection attracts other activities. About half would read will come! ● reluctant users that may eventually use more if they were recommended docu- other library services. ments based on their genre. There seems Stable users—About 75 percent of REFERENCES to be unanswered demand at this level. 1. Mira Falardeau, La Bande dessinée au Qué- those who responded have been using the Satisfaction—Eighty-nine percent bec (Montréal: Editions Boréal, 1994); Sha- collection for three years or more, while of responders—spanning all demo- ron L. Baker, “Quality and Demand: The 80 percent visit the library at least every graphic characteristics—are either satis- Basis for Fiction Collection Assessment,” four weeks. Of course, satisfaction sur- fied or very satisfied with the Octogone Collection Building 13, nos. 2–3: 65–68; veys usually attract the most motivated Library’s collection. (Those dissatisfied Sophie Ranjard, “Pratiques et attentes des cases, so this point is often a fallacy—but are unhappy with the size of the English publics des médiathèques: méthodes et it is still interesting to note. collection.) techniques d’enquête,” Bulletin des Bib- Give them what they want—Users liothèques de France 45, no. 5: 102–107; were asked to rank their favorite genres. Marie-Fabienne Fortin, Le processus de la recherche: de la conception à la réalisation Here are their preferences, in order: Conclusion humor, adventure, science fiction, police/ (Montréal: Décarie Éditeur, 1996). 2. Jacques Ferron, Comprendre, interpréter spy/political, and fantasy. Other choices Despite major cultural differences et évaluer les sondages (Montréal: Info- were available, but they didn’t do nearly as between francophone and anglophone Éditique Ferron, 1994), vi, 218. well. In order: superhero, historical, erotic, sequential art, they both benefit from 3. Paul Gravett, “Telling Tales Through horror, western, drama/romance, and a devoted fan base. Furthermore, the Visuals,” Library Association Record 99, alternative/underground. This is quite use- introduction of the graphic novel format no. 3 (Mar. 1997): 141.

Appendix: Survey Questions For a Better Comic Book and Manga Collection Did you know that your library has one of the most extensive collections of manga, comic books, and graphic novels (bandes dessinées) on the Island of Montréal? It’s true, and we’re always trying to touch it up for you. Actually, you might have noticed the improved display cases for the manga collection. (Mangas are comic books from Japan, on the rotating display cases) In keeping with this desire to offer you better service, we ask you to take a few moments of your time to answer this short survey. Be assured that all the details you provide us will be used for statistical purposes and that this survey will remain confidential. Please fill out this survey only once. Thank you in advance for your time!

40 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS CHARBONNEAU ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL READERS

Validation Have you ever borrowed from the Octogone Library . . .

● mangas in French? yes no ● mangas in English ? yes no ● comic books/graphic novels in French? yes no ● comic books/graphic novels in English? yes no If you have answered YES to any of the previous questions, please fill out this survey.

Your Use of the Collection

1. Are the comic book/graphic novel and manga collections the main reason you visit the library? (Yes, I visit the library primarily for the comic book/graphic novel and manga collections; No, I visit the library primarily for the other services or collections) 2. How long have you been using the manga or comic book/graphic novel collection? (Less than 6 months, 6 months to 1 year, 1–2 years, 3–4 years, 5–9 years, 10 years or more) 3. How long ago was the last time you visited the library to use the comic book/graphic novel or manga collection? (this is my first time, less than a week ago, 1–2 weeks ago, 3 weeks ago, 4–6 weeks ago, 7–9 weeks ago, 10–12 weeks ago, 13 weeks or more) 4. On average, how often do you visit the library for the comic book/graphic novel or manga collection? (more than once a week, once a week, twice a month, once a month; once every two months; once every three months; once every six months, I don’t know) 5. How many comic books/graphic novels or mangas did you borrow when you last visited the library (estimate if you are not sure)? (1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, 9–10; I never borrow comic books/graphic novels or mangas, I read them at the library) 6. Once at the library, do you use its other documents or services? (Yes, I use its other documents or services, specify______; No, I visit the library only for its comic books/graphic novels or mangas) 7. Do you use the computer system to find comic books/graphic novels or mangas you want to read? (Yes, No, specify ______).

Your Preferences

8. Do you prefer mangas or comic books/graphic novels? (mangas; comic books/graphic novels; both) 9. Order the following genre from 1 to 12, where 12 is your favorite genre and 1, the one you like the least. (alternative/underground; adventure; drama/romance; erotic; fantasy; historical; horror; humour; police/spy/political; science-fic- tion; superhero; Western) 10. Do you prefer stories that span many volumes (series) or stories contained in one volume (graphic novels, one-shots)? (series, graphic novels, one-shots; both) 11. In which language do you prefer to read comic books/graphic novels or mangas? (French; English; both) 12. How interested are you in works detailing artists’ lives (biographies, making-of) as well as essays or books about comic book/ graphic novel or manga (history of, analysis, papers)? (very interested; interested; uninterested; very uninterested) 13. How interested are you in encyclopedias or dictionaries about comic books/graphic novels or mangas? (very interested; interested; uninterested; very uninterested) 14. How interested are you in events involving comic books/graphic novels or mangas (lectures, conferences, book club)? (very interested; interested; uninterested; very uninterested) 15. Do you buy your own comic books/graphic novels or mangas? (Yes, specify the number of books purchased each year: ____; No) 16. Do you receive comic books/graphic novels or mangas as gifts? (Yes, specify the number of books received each year: ____; No)

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 41 ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL READERS CHARBONNEAU

Your Appreciation of the Collection

17. Regarding the comic book/graphic novel and manga collection in general, are you . . . (very satisfied; satisfied; unsatisfied; very unsatisfied)?

For the following points, please read the statement and show if it’s true or false for French or English mangas as well as for French or English comic books/graphic novels. Specify your choice by circling: T, if the statement is TRUE; F, if the statement is FALSE ; ?, if the statement does not apply or if you do not know.

Mangas Comic books/graphic novels IN GENERAL, French English French English 18. The books I want to read are never there T F ? T F ? T F ? T F ? 119. I’ve almost read everything that interests me T F ? T F ? T F ? T F ? 20. I feel like all the books are alike T F ? T F ? T F ? T F ? 21. I have a hard time finding what I want to read T F ? T F ? T F ? T F ? 22. I would read more if I knew which books are good T F ? T F ? T F ? T F ? 23. I would read more books if I knew which ones are in the genre I like T F ? T F ? T F ? T F ?

In Closing 24. What is your age group? (Less than 12 years old; 13–15 years old; 16–17 years old; 18–21 years old; 22–25 years old; 26–29 years old; 30–39 years old; 40– 49 years old; 50–59 years old; 60 years old and older) 25. What is your gender? (Female; Male) 26. Do you live in the LaSalle borough (old city of LaSalle)? (Yes; No, specify ______) 27. Do you have suggestions or comments to improve the manga or comic book/graphic novel collection?

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS SURVEY ONLY ONCE PLEASE HAND IN THIS SURVEY TO ANY LIBRARY EMPLOYEE Thank you. By answering this survey, you have partaken in the collection’s improvement!

42 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Teenage Reluctant Readers and Graphic Novels Clare Snowball

esearch has shown that rec- too busy with other activities. On enter- the library that carries comic books will reational reading decreases ing high school, he couldn’t understand “create raving fans of its collections.”17 as students progress what he read anymore, and he couldn’t Teenage reluctant readers are especially through school.1 Brown has understand why reading had become so attracted to comics.18 Crawford says com- found that children stop hard. His problems with reading came ics are an “invaluable tool for motivating Rgoing to the public library between the from his lack of reading practice.8 reluctant readers.”19 Gorman thinks the ages of fourteen and twenty, which quite Reading can offer a “wealth of cover art pulls in those who are “oth- likely correlates with their not reading.2 experience . . . on both an emotional erwise disinclined to pick up a book.”20 In a discussion between some ninth grade level and an intellectual level.”9 If teen- Mackey and Johnston believe graphic boys they said reading was “boring, it was agers don’t read, “they are missing out novels appeal to “readers who would too difficult, it took too long . . . reading on so much.” There is no getting away reject more traditional fare.”21 Research was hard work.” They didn’t get instant from the printed word in everyday undertaken on sixth graders in Austin, gratification from it.3 Australian author life, whether at home, school, or work. Texas in 1999 found the most popular Agnes Nieuwenhuizen has found teenag- You have to read wherever you go—in reading choices for all children, regardless ers “don’t want to read, they’re bored, books, in newspapers, in magazines, on of reading ability or gender, were scary they don’t think books have anything to signs, on television, or when surfing the books and comic books.22 say to them.”4 Internet. Reading allows more under- Comics have “low readability levels” As librarians, we all know how standing of a whole range of issues and and are thus easier for less proficient important reading is. But why is it so improves the ability to argue a point.10 readers.23 Crawford mentions the reading important that teenagers read? ALA says reluctant readers are those level of graphic novels being about that John Marsden, an Australian author who, for whatever reason, choose not of Time magazine, young adult novels, of young adult books, notes that a com- to read.11 Teenagers in particular often and many adult best sellers.24 This could mon assumption is that reading is good. can read but hate to do it.12 Stringer and be the reason graphic novels are less likely “This ignores the fact that some of the Mollineaux define reluctant readers as to intimidate a reluctant reader.25 most successful and envied people in our those who are able to but “do not pos- The UK Reading Agency had a pro- society are apparently nonreaders,” for sess the desire or the inclination to read.” motion in February called Manga Mania, example, sports people.5 This is not as They note the reasons for this lack of which was aimed at teenagers from thir- incongruous as it first seems because he reading are diverse.13 For example, some teen to sixteen. It was publicized as a way qualifies this with his belief that books young people who hate to read find it for libraries to reach those who didn’t are one of the few ways available to help difficult and still have bad memories of think of themselves as readers.26 teenagers understand the great passions learning to read.14 Why are comics are so popular with and dramas.6 People will read, if and when they teenagers? Krashen has studied the benefits of are interested.15 Reluctant readers will not Teenagers today have so much reading for many years. He has found read just for the sake of reading. They tend to keep them occupied and are “sur- that children who read for pleasure show to be highly selective when choosing what rounded by diverse and increasingly improvement in reading, writing, gram- to read, but they are willing to read when complex media.”27 Correspondingly mar, and vocabulary, and they acquire they find something they connect with.16 these skills “involuntarily and without So to get teenage reluctant read- conscious effort.” He also notes that peo- ers reading, we need to find the elusive Clare Snowball has been a young ple who are well read rarely have serious reading material that provides interest. peoples’ services librarian in Perth, problems with writing, grammar or spell- Many writers agree that graphic novels Western Australia for the past three ing.7 Reeves provides an example of what could be that special something that years. This year she stopped working can happen when a student stops reading provides interest and that a teenager to begin Ph.D. work at Curtin University for pleasure. Joel was an excellent reader connects with. of Technology on teenagers’ use of graphic novels. Right now she is work- in his first years of school. In seventh Jones notes the overwhelming evi- ing towards her candidacy. grade, he stopped reading because he was dence for the value of comics. He says

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 43 TEENAGE RELUCTANT READERS SNOWBALL their expectations for entertainment seventh grade teacher in Oklahoma, uses Youth and Literature, ed. Agnes Nieuwen- are high.28 They have been raised in manga in her classes and says, “Even my huizen (Melbourne, Australia: D. W. a very visual world, with wide-screen students who weren’t interested in read- Thorpe, 1994): 94. television, electronic games, and the ing readily picked up the books.” She 4. Barbara Dobson, “An Interview with Internet.29 Those ninth grade boys I encourages other teachers to use them in Agnes Nieuwenhuizen,” Reading Time 39, no. 4 (1995): 8. mentioned earlier find television, videos, their classes and although hesitant at first 5. John Marsden, “More Power to Them! and computers far more interesting than “once they finally pick them up and read 30 42 Young Readers and Access to Reality in reading a book. These are all highly them, they realise their value.” Literature,” The Written World, 108. visual activities and necessitate visual Another teacher, Sister John Delaney, 6. Ibid., 112. literacy.31 Tony Panaccio was the senior says parents would complain their chil- 7. Stephen D. Krashen, The Power of Read- vice president of product development dren only liked to read comic books. ing: Insights from the Research, 2nd ed. for a reading program developed by the She would reply, “At least he is reading.” (Westport, Conn.: Libraries Unlimited, former comic publisher CrossGen. He Delaney believes comics “are merely 2004). believes comics are a “natural tool” for a good introduction to books, not an 8. Anne R. Reeves, “Reading This and reaching this generation.32 end.”43 Librarian Sandra Rockett believes Refusing That: Case Studies of High Steve Kleckner is the vice president graphic novels are stepping stones to School” (Paper presented at the 91st Annual Meeting of the National Council of sales and distribution for manga reading materials at “the next level.”44 of Teachers of English, Baltimore, Md., publisher TokyoPop. He likens reading Teacher Diane Roy says a graphic novel 45 Nov. 15–20, 2001). comics to experiencing entertainment can become a “bridge to other things.” 9. Monique Lebrun, “From Pre-Teens to on many different levels. “You are read- Lebrun agrees, as teenagers get older Teens: Evolutions Regarding the Atten- ing and watching a story unravel at the and their tastes mature, these readers dance at Libraries and the Development same time.”33 Kan believes it is the “visual may be drawn to “more sophisticated of Literacy” (Paper presented at the aspect” of graphic novels that attracts genres.”46 Krashen has found consider- World Library and Information Con- reluctant readers.34 It could also be the able evidence that comic books do lead to gress: 70th IFLA General Conference and smaller amount of text combined with more “serious” reading.47 Graphic novels Council, Buenos Aires, 2004). the “picture activity.”35 specialist of the United Kingdom book- 10. Muller, “I Hate Reading.” Teenagers who choose not to read seller Ottakar, George Walkley, says that 11. American Library Association. Young Adults Deserve the Best: Competencies because they find it difficult may pre- comics are not just “books for kids who for Librarians Serving Youth, Oct. 2003. fer comics, whose pictures can provide don’t read.” He emphasizes that they are 48 Accessed Apr. 5, 2005, www.ala.org/ contextual clues to the meaning of the “proper” books. Template.cfm?Section=Continuing_ 36 words. The blending of words and pic- A mother of three boys who were all Ed&template=/ContentManagement/ tures in comics allows readers to “see the very reluctant to read and had difficulty in ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=61110 characters through the illustrations.”37 learning to read said, “The first thing my 12. Margaret Mackey and Ingrid Johnston, Stringer and Mollineaux discuss the eldest boy read because he wanted to was “The Book Resisters: Ways of Approach- importance of the pictures in helping a comic book.” A year or two after this, he ing Reluctant Teenage Readers.” School readers who “have difficulty in entering progressed to reading other books.49 Libraries Worldwide 2, no. 1 (1996): 25. the story.”38 Paxton studied a class of With all this evidence as to the 13. Sharon A. Stringer and Bill Mollineaux, eighth graders and found the students importance of graphic novels in motivat- “Removing the Word Reluctant from Reluctant Reader,” English Journal 92, no. could not visualize the scenes, charac- ing teenage reluctant readers to pick up 4 (2003): 71. ters, or action based on what they read. a book, let’s hope every library starts or 14. Lebrun, “From Pre-Teens to Teen.” The books did not have extensive illus- expands their graphic novel collection. ● 15. David Kendall, “Our Children Don’t trations and thus “held little meaning Read,” Library Association Record 102, no. for them.”39 Comics could have helped REFERENCES 6 (2000): 334. these students with their reading and 1. Thomas M. Smith, Beth Aronstamm 16. Reeves, “Reading This.” understanding, “pictures are not only Young, Yupin Bae, Susan P. Choy, and 17. Patrick Jones, Connecting Young Adults engaging, but also an aid to learning and Nabeel Alsalam. Condition of Education: and Libraries: A How-to-Do-It Manual meaning making.”40 Reading and Writing Habits of Students, for Librarians, 2nd ed. (New York: Neal- Are graphic novels a stepping Dec. 22, 1997. Accessed Apr. 5, 2005, Schuman Publishers, 1998). stone to other reading materials, or is it nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98003.pdf. 18. Katharine Kan, “Getting Graphic at the 2. Anita Brown, “Reference Services for School Library,” Library Media Connec- enough that teenagers are reading some- Children: Information Needs and Wants tion 21, no. 7 (2003): 15; Danuta Kean, thing? There is some disagreement on in the Public Library,” Australian Library “Get Ready for Manga Mania,” Bookseller this question. Journal 53, no. 3 (2004): 265. no. 5155 (2004): 22. Just getting reluctant readers to read 3. Vivienne Muller, “The ‘I Hate Reading’ 19. Philip Charles Crawford, “A Novel something can help in their discovery of Book Club: What a Challenge, and How Approach: Using Graphic Novels to the joy of reading.41 Carrie Edwards, a Did It Come About?” The Written World: Attract Reluctant Readers and Promote

44 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS SNOWBALL TEENAGE RELUCTANT READERS

Literacy,” Library Media Connection 22, 30. Muller, “I Hate Reading.” 39. Nina Marie Paxton, “Rounding up Reluc- no. 5 (2004): 26. 31. Robin Brenner, “Graphic Novels: Where tant Readers,” (Master’s thesis, Pacific 20. Michele Gorman, “What Teens Want,” to Start?” SelectioNotes, Apr.–Jun. 2004. Lutheran University, 2003). School Library Journal 48, no. 8 (2002): 47. Accessed Apr. 5, 2005, kdla.ky.gov/online- 40. Bonny Norton, “The Motivating Power 21. Mackey and Johnston, “The Book Resist- pubs/selectionotes/AprJune2004/gn_ of Comic Books: Insights from Archie ers.” wheretostart.htm. Comics Readers,” The Reading Teacher 57, 22. Krashen, The Power of Reading. 32. Stephen C. George, “Comics with Class,” no. 2 (2003): 143. 23. Chia-Hui Lin, “Literacy Instruction Better Homes and Gardens, June 2003. 41. Marilyn Reynolds in Méndez, “Hamlet through Communicative and Visual Accessed Apr. 5, 2005, www.findarticles. Too Hard?” Arts,” ERIC Digest no. ED477612 (2003). com/p/articles/mi_m1041/is_6_81/ai_ 42. Michelle Galley, “Going ‘Graphic’: Educa- 24. Crawford, “A Novel Approach.” 102105007. tors Tiptoe into Realm of Graphic Nov- 25. Gretchen Schwarz, “Graphic Books for 33. Kean, “Get Ready for Manga Mania.” els,” Education week 23, no. 23 (2004): 6. Diverse Needs: Engaging Reluctant and 34. Kan, “Getting Graphic.” 43. Ibid. Curious Readers,” ALAN review 30, no. 1 35. Jackie French, Rocket Your Child into 44. Tom Bell, “Racy Fluff or Reading Aid?” (2002): 55. Reading (Sydney, Australia: HarperCol- Portland Press Herald, Mar. 14, 2005. 26. Kean, “Get Ready for Manga Mania.” lins, 2004). Accessed Apr. 5, 2005, pressherald. 27. Schwarz, “Graphic Books for Diverse 36. Teresa Méndez, “Hamlet Too Hard? Try mainetoday.com/news/state/ Needs;” Rocco Versaci, “How Comic a Comic Book,” Christian Science Moni- 050314comics.shtml Books Can Change the Way Our Students tor, Oct. 12, 2004. Accessed Apr. 5, 2005, 45. Méndez, “Hamlet Too Hard?” See Literature: One Teacher’s Perspective,” www.csmonitor.com/2004/1012/p11s01- 46. Lebrun, “From Pre-Teens to Teen.” English Journal 91, no. 2 (2001): 62. legn.html; Krashen, The Power of Read- 47. Krashen, The Power of Reading. 28. Alleen Pace Nilsen and Kenneth L. ing; Crawford, “A Novel Approach.” 48. Kean, “Get Ready for Manga Mania.” Donelson in Schwarz, “Graphic Books for 37. Versaci, “How Comic Books Can 49. Kay Haugaard. “Comic Books: Conduits Diverse Needs,” 54. Change.” to Culture?” The Reading Teacher 27 29. Gorman, “What Teens Want;” Versaci, 38. Stringer and Mollineaux, “Removing the (1973): 54. “How Comic Books Can Change.” Word Reluctant.”

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

AverStream Press 21 Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books cover 2 BWI/Follett cover 4 Full Cast Audio 29 DC Comics cover 3 Harcourt 3 Diamond Comics 8 Orca Book Publishers 51

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 45 INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ¿Es Un Pájaro? ¿Es Un Avión? . . . ¡Es Supermán! Spanish Comics for American Libraries Lucia Cedeira Serantes

ince Art Spiegelman’s Maus In Spain, discovering this positive group in the United States, becoming the won the Pulitzer in 1992, comic influence is taking longer despite the coun- largest minority in the country. This fact art seems to be winning respect try’s talented comic authors and quality supports the increasing attention that and taking the place it deserves production. Librarians and bookstore own- this population is receiving from different in the cultural world, including ers are starting to discover the potential institutions. Libraries are also address- Slibraries. Graphic novels and comic books and importance of this medium, especially ing the issue of serving this burgeoning have proven helpful in bringing young to young adult users—a group always dif- group of patrons. Materials in Spanish patrons to libraries and keeping them ficult to attract to libraries and bookstores. are being bought, Web pages in Spanish inside! Comic books serve two different Some institutions are trying to improve built, and activities and services devel- types of readers: their comic collections and develop pro- oped to reach out and answer the needs grams that work with comics. The follow- of the Hispanic population. ●� Reluctant readers—The combina- ing are three such projects: So, what do comics and graphic nov- tion of image and text (visual lan- els have to do with all this? As we estab- guage) and themes such as action, ●� Comicteca de la Biblioteca Regional lished before, graphic novels and comic superheroes, and adventure are very de Murcia (www.bibliotecaregional. books collections have the potential to attractive to readers. Jim Trelease, carm.es/comicteca): More than entice young adults into the library. Is a specialist in reading promotion, twenty-five hundred comics and this also true when librarians work with explains that when reading a comic, graphic novels have their special Hispanic young adults? “Yes” would be for example Tintin, you are read- place at the library. Comicteca is a the right answer, and Spanish comic ing eight thousand words. The best word that is a combination of the books can be helpful to libraries in cre- thing is that the kids do not realize Spanish words for comic and library. ating new and exciting ways of further that they are actually reading so ●� Biblioteca Tecla (www.l-h.es/ reaching out to Hispanic youth. many words.1 biblioteques/teclasala/comic.shtml): There are four important facts about ●� Gifted and adult readers—Graphic A free bimonthly bulletin cover- the Hispanic population that librarians novels present important themes, ing different topics related to the should have in mind:2 especially social and historical. comic book world; new acquisitions, Works like Persepolis, Maus, or Pedro reviews, and articles featuring authors �● Youthfulness—While 35.0 percent and Me are perfect examples. Comic or works. . It is free and available of Hispanics are younger than eigh- books also promote creativity and through electronic subscription. teen, just 25.7 percent of the total new ways of expression, create new �● Entre Viñetas (www.fundaciongsr. United States population is younger mythologies, and mix old topics in es/exposiciones): An itinerant exhibi- than eighteen; the median age of literature and new formats, like Neil tion created and coordinated by the Hispanics is 25.9, almost ten years Gaiman’s Sandman. International Center of Children’s and younger than the entire United States Young Adults’ Literature. This exhibi- population. tion tries to show the different styles �● Language use—75 percent of in comics—American, French/Belgian, Hispanics speak a language other University of Salamanca gradu- and Spanish, among others, as well as ate and MLIS at the University of than English at home, and 99 per- important works and authors. Pittsburgh, Lucia Cedeira Serantes cur- cent of the time that language rently works at the Young Adult Library is Spanish. and the Research Center part of the �● Center for Children’s and Young Adults’ Comics in Spanish: Why? Education—Compared with the rest Literature (Fundación Germán Sánchez of the population, Hispanics are less Ruipérez) at Salamanca, Spain. The U.S. Census 2000 shows that likely to have completed at least high Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic school or college, although this situ-

46 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS CEDEIRA ¿ES UN PÁJARO? ¿ES UN AVIÓN?

ation is changing with second- and �● Marcos Martín: Batgirl: Year One Spain has several established publish- third-generation immigrants and (DC Comics) and Breach (DC ers of comic books and graphic novels: native-born Hispanics. Comics) Norma Editorial, Ediciones B, Planeta de �● Carlos Pacheco: Fantastic Four �● Future—In 2020, 24 percent of the Agostini, Ediciones La Cúpula, Ediciones five-to-nineteen-year-old popula- (Marvel, #35–#41, #44, #46, #47, and Glénat España. There are also some new- tion will be Hispanic: around sixteen #49), JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice (DC comers like Astiberri, De Ponent, Sins million. In the same period of time, Comics), Arrowsmith (DC Comics), Entido. American buyers now have easier the second largest minority group Superman/Batman: Absolute Power, access to some of these works through of youth, African-Americans, is not vol 3. (DC Comics) Public Square Books, the exclusive United projected to grow, maintaining its �● Javier Pulido: Human Target: Final States distributor of Spanish-language numbers at around ten million.3 Cut (DC-Vertigo), Catwoman (DC comics published by Norma Editorial, by Comics, #17–#19), Hellblazer: Setting far the largest comic publisher in Spain. Indeed, the Hispanic population Sun (DC Comics), Robin: Year One While Spanish graphic novel and is large, young, and bilingual. So comic (DC Comics) comic book publication has a long his- books can become an important player tory that, by most accounts, started on enticing Hispanic young adults to the Same Art, Different around the end of the nineteenth century, library, as well as supporting literacy and the following is a selective list whose addressing some of their reading tastes.4 Language Exhibit purpose is to represent the best works in Moreover, not only Hispanics will benefit Over the years some Spanish comics have Spanish from the last fifteen years. The from Spanish comics purchased; English- been translated into English and also list includes not only classic authors but speaking patrons can also use these many well-known American comics can also those whose stories and styles might same resources to explore and learn the be found in Spanish through publishers appeal to Hispanic American audiences Spanish language. in Spain. Libraries can create exhibits that as well as a wider group of library users. display the same issue in both Spanish and English. Patrons can choose the lan- Activities and guage they are most comfortable reading, Altuna, Horacio. Hot L.A. Barcelona: Marketing Strategies or they can check both out together to Norma, 2000. compare the original to the translation This work was originally written Theatre Inspired or challenge their comprehension skills as two stories for the magazine by Comic Stories in another language. This activity can be Top Comics. It is presented in black and white, something that helps to Some recommended works to base the helpful to encourage bilingual readers to read in English. highlight the plot about racism and theatre activity on are Mujeres Alteradas, violence based on the riots that hap- Mafalda, or La Parejita, comic books pened in Los Angeles in 1992. It is inspired by daily life situations that also Core Collection expected to be published in USA by look at these actions with a sense of Public Square in April 2005. humor. Encouraging youth organiza- When we refer to comics in Spanish, Breccia, Alberto. Mort Cinder. Barcelona: tions and schools to participate and help two other words can be used: tebeo and Planeta De Agostini, 2002. organize and coordinate this activity will historieta. Historieta is a generic term This volume is considered a master- help to establish relationships with those for any kind of comic creation. Tebeo is piece of Argentinean comic produc- who work with the targeted audience. a word that was coined in 1968 when it tion and Breccia’s masterwork. The became part of the dictionary of the Real main character is a prisoner that is Superheroes with a Spanish Academia Española de la Lengua. Tebeo supposed to be dead but is immortal, Flavor Exhibit comes from a children’s magazine named and has lived through several historic TBO, which began publication in 1917 time periods. He meets an antique There are many Spanish comic authors and became a best seller, with 200,000 dealer who is amazed and intrigued that had to immigrate to the USA to issues sold in 1935, just before the with the prisoner’s stories. The develop their career. Most of them are Spanish Civil War. Tebeo is used to refer Ediciones Colihue edition is available working in classic superhero series, like to comics created just for children. In through Amazon. Fantastic Four or Robin. Some authors the ’70s, cómic was introduced to refer to Díaz Canales, Juan. Blacksad: Un Lugar have had the opportunity to develop their creations for adults.5 Nowadays, in daily Entre Las Sombras. Illus. Juanjo own series. Some examples that would be conversation, these three words are used Guarnido. Barcelona: Norma, 2004. appropriate for this exhibit are: as synonyms with some connotations: Awarded Best Work at the 2000 Salón �● David López: Batman: Legends of the Tebeo usually refers to Spanish creations, del Comic de Barcelona, this comic Dark Night (DC Comics #190, #191), and cómic is a generic term to refer to book takes place in an American city Fallen Angel (DC Comics) foreign publications. in the ’40s. Detective John Blacksad

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 47 ¿ES UN PÁJARO? ¿ES UN AVIÓN? CEDEIRA

is investigating the death of an English through Eclipse Books, but curious group of friends. It was writ- actress he used to date. This seems to this edition seems to be out of print. ten in the ’60s and ’70s, but many be a typical detective story until you Ibáñez, Francisco. El Sulfato Atómico. of the social issues presented here see that the characters are anthro- Barcelona: Ediciones B, 2003. are still relevant. The Argentinean pomorphosized animals. I Books This volume is considered by edition from Ediciones de la Flor is published an edition in English that the critics to be the best story of available through Amazon. is available through Amazon. Mortadelo and Filemón, the classic Torres, Daniel. Roco Vargas. Barcelona: Díaz Canales, Juan. Blacksad: Artic characters of the Spanish comic pro- Norma, 2004. Nation. Illus. Juanjo Guarnido. duction. These funny secret agents Roco Vargas is a futuristic private Barcelona: Norma, 2003. have to take from evil hands a spray investigator who fights crime—a This time John Blacksad has to find that makes insects grow to gigantic classic plot reinvented with the bril- a young girl that has been kidnapped proportions. liant and original style of Torres. by a white supremacist group: Artic Jan. Monster Chapapote. Barcelona: An edition in English was published Nation. This volume won the Best Ediciones B, 2004. by Dark Horse, and a limited num- Art Award at the 2004 Angouleme Superlópez, the protagonist of this ber are available through Amazon. International Comic Festival. An story, was born in 1973 as a parody However, other Roco Vargas comics English language edition was pub- of Superman. This story mixes are available. ● lished by I Books and is available humor with social critique as when through Amazon. Superlópez tries to stop a monster Durán, Luis. Caminando por las Colinas representing the oil spill that hap- WEBLIOGRAPHY de Arena. Bilbao: Astiberri, 2004 pened in the Northwestern Spanish La guía del cómic: www.guiadelcomic.com Playing with westerns topics, Luis coast in 2002. Tebeosfera: www.tebeosfera.com Durán tells the story of Caballo Loco Maitena. Mujeres Alteradas 1. Barcelona: Salón del Cómic de Barcelona (Barcelona and his search for bravery and cour- Lumen, 2003. Comicon): www.ficomic.com Salón del Cómic de A Coruña (A Coruña age during the war against the new Women, daily life situations, fam- Comicon): www.aytolacoruna.es/comic invaders: the white man. ily, and love are the main themes Fontdevila, Manel. La Parejita S.A. in the stories of this Argentinean BIBLIOGRAPHY Barcelona: Ediciones El Jueves, 2004. comic author. Her stories were Frattini, Eric. Guía básica del cómic. Madrid: This comic book is a collection of originally published as comic strips Nuer, 1999. stories that depict contemporary in newspapers around the world. Historietas, Comics y Tebeos Españoles. Tou- daily life of a young couple living in An English edition of the first issue louse: Presses Universitaires du Mirail, a Spanish city. Always with a great has been published by Riverhead 2002. sense of humor and clean lines in his Trade. The Argentinean edition by Merino, Ana. El Cómic Hispánico. Madrid: drawing, Fontdevila presents typical Sudamericana is available through Cátedra, 2003. stories like Christmas Eve dinners Amazon. Vergara, Bernardo. Entre Viñetas. Salamanca: and fights over who will take the gar- Prado, Miguelanxo. Trazo de Tiza. Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez, Centro Internacional del Libro Infantil y bage out. Barcelona: Norma, 2003. Juvenil, 2003. Giménez, Carlos. Los Profesionales. Diverse characters meet on an island Barcelona: Ediciones Glénat España, in the middle of the ocean, a simple REFERENCES 2000. story that obtained the Alph Art 1. Stephen Weiner, “Creating a Graphic Giménez uses the beginning of his Award at Angoulême and Best Work Novel Collection for the Public Library,” career and the careers of other comic at the Salón del Còmic de Barcelona Voice of Youth Advocates 15 (Dec. 1992): artists as inspiration for this work. in 1994, and was nominated as 270. The stories are set in the ’80s, the Best Painter at the Will Eisner 2. Roberto R. Ramirez, We the People: His- period where democracy was being Awards and Best Foreign Work at panics in the United States (Washington, established again in Spain. the Harvey Awards in 1995. An edi- D.C.: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). Giménez, Carlos. Paracuellos. Barcelona: tion in English has been published 3. Hispanics: People in Motion, Trends 2005 Ediciones Glénat España, 2000. by Nantier Beall Minoustchine (Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center, 2005), 70–89. Considered Giménez’s masterwork, Publishing and Graphic No Edition, 4. Stephen Cary, Going Graphic: Comics Paracuellos presents the story of a and it is available through Amazon. at Work in the Multilingual Classroom group of kids in an orphanage after Quino. Todo Mafalda. Barcelona: Lumen, (Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann, 2004). the Spanish Civil War. The story is 2003. 5 Pablo De Santis, La Historieta en la Edad based on memories of the author, This is a collection of stories about de la Razón (Buenos Aires, Argentina: who lived in one of these institutions. Mafalda, a little girl with a special Paidós, 1998). This comic book was available in sense of humor, hates soup and has a

48 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS THE UPDATE The Update

YALSA Announces 2005 adversity, and exploring the world that to encourage teens to read for the fun of Alex Awards surrounds us.” it by promoting nonfiction, biographies, YALSA has selected ten adult books that The Alex Awards were created to rec- documentaries, realistic fiction, and more. will appeal to teen readers to receive the ognize that many teens enjoy and often The dates for this year’s celebration are 2005 Alex Awards. The Alex Awards were prefer books written for adults and to October 16–22, 2005. TRW is sponsored announced by YALSA and Booklist as part assist librarians in recommending adult annually by the Young Adult Library of National Library Week, April 10–16, books that appeal to teens. The award Services Association (YALSA), a division 2005. The 2005 Alex Awards are: is named in honor of the late Margaret of the American Library Association. Alexander Edwards, fondly called Alex The TRW Web site, www.ala.org/

● Almond, Steve. Candyfreak: A by her closest friends, a young adult spe- teenread, includes lists of recommended Journey through the Chocolate cialist at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in reading for teens, tips for planning and Underbelly of America. Algonquin Baltimore. She used adult books exten- promoting TRW events locally; TRW Books of Chapel Hill, $21.95 (1- sively with young adults to broaden their products available for purchase, links to 56512-412-9). experience and enrich their understand- the Teens’ Top Ten; professional resources ● Cox, Lynn. Swimming to Antarctica: ing of themselves and their world. for librarians, teachers, and parents; and Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer. In addition to selecting titles for more. New this year, participants who Knopf, $24.95 (0-375-41507-6). the Alex Awards, the Alex Committee officially register for TRW on the Web ● Halpin, Brendan. Donorboy. Random presents a program at the ALA Annual site can download the official Get Real! @ House, $12.95 (1-4000-6277-2). Conference. This year’s program high- your library® logo. ● Kurson, Robert. Shadow Divers. lighted how to booktalk the Alex winners Now in its eighth year, TRW is a Random House, $26.95 (0-375- to young adults. national literacy initiative of YALSA. The 50858-9). An annotated list of the Alex Award number of school library media centers, ● Meyers, Kent. Work of Wolves. winners is available on the YALSA mem- public libraries, and bookstores that cel- Harcourt, $24 (0-15-101057-9). bers-only Web site, in the April 1st issue ebrate TRW has grown steadily since its ● Patchett, Ann. Truth and Beauty: A of Booklist, and in the 2005 edition of inception. In 2004, more than thirteen Friendship. HarperCollins, $23.95 ALA’s Guide to Best Reading. The list hundred participants registered on the (0-06-057214-0). without annotations is available on the TRW Web site. ● Picoult, Jodi. My Sister’s Keeper. YALSA Web site: www.ala.org/yalsa/ “By encouraging teens to become Atria, $25 (0-7434-5452-9). booklists/alex. more avid readers, Teen Read Week seeks ● Reed, Kit. Thinner Than Thou. Tom The 2005 Alex Award Committee: to stem the tide of falling test scores and Doherty Associates, $24 (0-765- Chair Kimberley Hrivnak, Allegheny lower graduation rates among today’s 30762-6). County (Pa.) Library Association; Lauren teens,” says YALSA president David ● Shepard, Jim. Project X. Knopf, $20 Adams, Newton, Mass.; Terry Beck, Sno- Mowery. Mowery continued, “Programs (1-4000-4071-X). Isle Libraries, Wash.; Peter Butts, Holland and activities planned by past Teen Read ● Sullivan, Robert. Rats: Observations (Mich.) Public Schools; Angela Carstensen, Week participants have helped to spread on the History and Habitat of the Staten Island (N.Y.) Academy; Mary the message that teens should ‘Read for City’s Most Unwanted Inhabitants. Hastler, Harford County (Md.) Public the Fun of It.’” Bloomsbury, $23.95 (1-58234-385-3). Library; Ellen Loughran, Pratt School Kids Can Press, Scholastic, and of Library and Information Science, Lerner Publishing Group are TRW “The list created by the 2005 Alex New York; Karlan Sick, New York Public sponsors. Orca Book Publishers and Awards Committee is a diverse group of Library; Ann Theis, Chesterfield County Pam Spencer Holley are official Friends both fiction and nonfiction titles that (Va.) Library; and administrative assistant of TRW. TRW’s nonprofit support- will entertain, captivate, and challenge David Hrivnak, Peoples Library, Pa. ing organizations include: American many teens,” said Kimberley Hrivnak, Association of School Administrators, chair of the 2005 Alex Awards commit- American Booksellers Association, Cable tee. “These titles speak to realities that Teen Read Week’s 2005 in the Classroom, KIDSNET, Kids Care, affect all of us: unconditional friend- Web Site Launched National Association of Secondary School ship and love, pushing or being pushed Principals, National Council of Teachers beyond one’s limits, learning about “Get Real! @ your library®,” the theme of English, SmartGirl.org, National society’s norms and mores, dealing with for Teen Read Week (TRW) 2005, seeks Education Association, National School

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 49 THE UPDATE

Board Association, PBS, Speak Up Press, Envisioned Future define “what will constitute future suc- International Reading Association, cess.” The achievement of each goal will Big Audacious Goal: To be the driving TeenInk, and The N/Noggin. move the organization toward realization force behind all excellent young adult ser- For more information, contact the of its vision. The goal areas are not in vices in every library serving teens. YALSA office by e-mail at [email protected], priority order. A Vivid Description of the Desired or by phone at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387. Strategic Objectives and Strategies Future: provide direction and actions on how the The Library association will accomplish its articulated ● There will be a young adult librarian YALSA’s New goals. Strategic Objectives are considered in every public and secondary school Strategic Plan in the three-tofive-year planning horizon library. while Strategies are considered within ● Every public library has a line item The information below was taken from the one-to-three-year planning horizon. for teen services. YALSA’s new strategic plan, which was Strategies are reviewed annually by the ● Library staff will value teens as adopted by YALSA’s Board of Directors YALSA leadership. at the 2005 Midwinter Meeting. The essential library users. full strategic plan can be viewed in the ● Every public library has designated Goal Area: Advocacy “About YALSA” section of the YALSA space set aside for teen activities. Web site, www.ala.org/yalsa. This plan YALSA The value of teen services within the library has increased as the result of identifies key goals and objectives that ● YALSA is recognized as the expert in YALSA will be working towards over the young adult library services. YALSA member advocacy. ● YALSA is recognized as the “net- next few years. Strategic Objectives: working hub” for all young adult librarians. Ten-to-Thirty-Year Planning 1. Increase advocacy tools for YALSA ● YALSA is the largest division in ALA. Horizon: Core Ideology and members. ● YALSA has wide visibility in the Envisioned Future Strategies: media. ● Create talking points for YALSA Core ideology describes an association’s ● YALSA provides advocacy training. members to use in giving pre- consistent identity that transcends all ● YALSA has the best leadership train- sentations. (FY05) changes related to its relevant envi- ing. ● Develop online advocacy train- ronment. It consists of two elements: ● ALA leadership consistently comes ing materials. (FY06) core purpose—the association’s reason from YALSA. 2. Increase association resources allo- for being, and core values—essential ● YALSA is more financially indepen- cated to advocacy. and enduring principles that guide an dent. Strategies: association. Envisioned future con- Teens ● Develop a plan outlining the veys a concrete yet unrealized vision ● Teens are the most active group in additional staff, financial, and for the association. It consists of a big public libraries. volunteer resources to create audacious goal—a clear and compel- ● All teens are library users and advo- an effective advocacy program. ling catalyst that serves as a focal point cates. (FY05) for effort—and a vivid description— Communities ● Develop and offer a leadership vibrant and engaging descriptions of ● Communities recognize that young institute for YALSA members. what it will be like to achieve the big adult librarians are the go-to (FY07) audacious goal. resource. 3. Increase advocacy within the local ● Young adult librarians are movers community. Core Ideology and shakers in the community. Strategies: Core Purpose: To advocate for excellence ● Refocus more resources on cre- in library services to the teen population. Three-to-Five-Year Planning ating partnerships with strategic national organizations with local Core Values: Horizon: Outcome-Oriented Goals, Objectives, and affiliations. (FY05) ● Visionary and passionate leadership. Strategies ● Develop workshop materials ● Commitment to member service. for use within the local com- ● Absolute integrity. The following thinking represents goal munity to explain the value ● Open, inclusive, and collaborative areas for the next three to five years. They of library services for teens. environment. are areas in which YALSA will explicitly (FY06) ● Excellence and innovation. state the conditions or attributes it wants 4. Increase advocacy within the library ● Equity of access for young adults. to achieve. These outcome statements institutions.

50 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS THE UPDATE

Strategies: ● Communicate to library schools the need for expanded course offerings in young adult services. (FY06).

Goal Area: Marketing As a result of YALSA’s marketing efforts, the profession of librarianship under- stands the value of the organization’s products and services.

Strategic Objectives: 1. Increase member knowledge about YALSA’s products and services. Strategies: ● Conduct research to assess suc- cess of current marketing and communication activities and strategies. (FY06) ● Create and implement an inte- grated and strategic marketing plan to communicate to mem- bers about YALSA products and ������� services. (FY07) 2. Increase awareness of YALSA to Don Trembath library decision-makers. Strategies: ● Collect anecdotal evidence and success stories to support the Rooster wants to graduate — value of young adult librarians. (FY05) he just doesn’t want to work for it. ● Create boilerplate packages to use for PR. (FY05) ������������������������������������ 3. Increase communications to targeted YALSA member prospects. ��������������������������������������� ������������������������������� Goal Area: Research YALSA members and ALA recognize the organization as a clearinghouse for library relevant teen research.

Strategic Objectives: 1. Refocus YALSA’s Research Committee to align with objectives and strategies of the strategic plan. Strategies: ● Compile a bibliography of exist- �������������� ���������� ����� ing research relating to teen library issues. (FY05) �������������������� ● Develop an annual research agenda. (FY06) ��������������� �����������������

YALS ● SUMMER 2005 51 THE UPDATE

● Kerri Bottorff, Celebration, Fla. ● Identify gaps in existing Goal Area: Association Sustainability research. (FY06) ● Lise Braden, San Francisco YALSA is self-sustaining as a result of rev- 2. Increase YALSA’s ability to success- ● Stacy Cameron, Prosper, Tex. enue growth. fully pursue grants. ● Lisanne Carlson, Clarendon Hills, Ill. Strategies: ● Jennifer Cook, Indianapolis Strategic Objectives: ● Marjorie Corey, Seminole, Fla. ● Pursue appropriate grants for identified research projects. 1. Increase revenue from existing pro- ● Arystine Danner, Chicago (FY06) grams and services. ● Rose Dawson, Washington, D.C. 3. Increase consolidation of YALSA Strategies: ● Donna Fry, Canton, Ohio ● Linda Greenbaum, Old Bethpage, research data. ● Create new professional devel- Strategies: opment opportunities that N.Y. ● Gina Harrington, Dayton, Ohio. ● Create centralized clearinghouse generate revenue over expenses. for association research projects. (FY05) ● Jennifer Huddler, Wilson, N.C. ● Elizabeth Kidnay, Littleton, Colo. (FY07) ● Add publications that will gen- 4. Increase communication and col- erate revenue over expenses. ● Barbara Kiefer, Columbus, Ohio laboration with other ALA research (FY06) ● Melissa Lang, Fayetteville, N.C. entities and activities. 2. Increase revenue from new products ● Heather Lauer, Gainesville, Fla. Strategies: and services. ● Katherine Lester, Brighton, Mich. ● Rita Lipof, Hollywood, Fla. ● Identify board liaison to interact Strategies: ● Carl Lund, Wichita, Kans. with other ALA divisions on ● Create a “Friends of YALSA” research projects. (FY05) donor opportunity to establish ● Linda Lundquist, Naperville, Ill. ● Cecilia McGowan, Bellevue (Wash.) ● Communicate with known data a permanent endowment for gatherers about our data needs. YALSA operations. (FY05) Regional Library ● Karen McKibben, Lincoln Park, (FY05) ● Create program to obtain corpo- rate sponsorships. (FY05) Mich. Goal Area: Continuous Learning 3. Increase membership. ● Dawn Mendel, Parker, Colo. Strategies: ● Gail Miller, Tucson, Ariz. YALSA’s continuing education opportuni- ● Catherine Mitchell, Saline, Mich. ● Create a targeted strategy to ties are more accessible to a wider audi- increase member retention. ● John Pace, Baltimore, Md. ence of members. (FY06) ● Deanna Rabago-Lechman, Concord, Calif. ● Develop a targeted campaign to Strategic Objectives: solicit new members. (FY07) ● Lanell Rabner, Springville, Utah ● Cynde Reid, Philadelphia 1. Increase participation in educational ● Create member-only products programs. and services that will attract new ● Cathy Rettberg, Menlo School, Strategies: members and retain existing Atherton, Calif. ● Patricia Richardson, Riverhead, N.Y. ● Conduct member and member members. (FY07) prospect research to determine ● Sarah Savage, Washington, Mich. Check the Update each issue for the education and information ● Jennifer Schulz, FPO, AE New Member Honor Roll to see who has needs. (FY05) ● Olivia Sparks, Chandler, Ariz. joined YALSA for the first time! YALSA ● Valerie Suttee, APO, AP ● Research and pursue appropriate would like to welcome the following new collaborative opportunities with ● Terry Taylor, DePaul University, members who joined in February. other CE providers. (FY05) Chicago ● Kathy Washington, Stone Mountain, ● Develop regional institutes ● Free Spirit Publishing, Minneapolis Ga. offered several times per year. ● Lerner Publishing Group, (FY07) Minneapolis ● Virginia Weil, Chicago ● Sandy Wise, University of Georgia, 2. Increase visibility of YALSA as a ● Oakwood Friends School, resource for continuing education. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Athens ● Strategies: ● Delania Adkins, Pike County Public ● Investigate the opportunity to Library District, Pikeville, Ky. provide distance learning pro- ● Melissa Artman, Springdale, Ariz. grams. (FY05) ● Lori Benton, Harcourt, New York

52 SUMMER 2005 ● YALS DC Comics 4c page cvr3 BWI 4c page cvr4