Biblio-Notes Issued by the Literatures in English Section of the Association of College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association #45 Spring 2005 ISSN 1076-8947
Notes from the Chair: I invite you all to attend our program, as well as the rest of the LES events at ALA Annual, as we navigate our own “rivers of change.” Rivers of Change Jen Stevens As I write this, the ACRL National LES Chair, 2004-2005 Conference in April is swiftly approaching. It’ll George Mason University probably have long been over by the time that [email protected] you see this column, but I think that its theme, “Navigating the Rivers of Change,” will still be relevant. Change seems to be the one constant for LES Mentoring Program academic and research libraries. Some of this Call for Volunteers change comes from larger changes in higher education, such as the growth in distance Are you seeking guidance and direction in education programs, while other changes seem your professional career? largely driven by technology. Of course, we’re not the only ones changing. Other libraries are Would you like to help colleagues navigate changing too. Ask a roomful of reference their way through librarianship? librarians whether there will still be reference desks in ten years, and you’ll likely to get a The ALA/ACRL Literatures in English Section roomful of nervous laughter. is actively working to match mentors and Not surprisingly, many of our LES discussions mentees according to their needs, areas of and programs have reflected that sense of interest, and work experience, among other change. We had a very lively discussion on criteria. graphic novels (also known as comic books) at Mentors can provide invaluable information last January’s Midwinter Membership Meeting, and advice on how to make the most of a discussion that’s been continued on the LES professional library careers. Successful discussion email list. Ten years ago, few mentoring involves a unique process whereby academic and research libraries collected each participant learns to respect and trust the graphic novels; now many of us are trying to partner’s commitment, experience, and decide how to catalog them. distinctiveness. A firm commitment to the Our upcoming program at the ALA Annual mentoring process and a willingness to invest Meeting in Chicago is on digital full text time and energy are most important. primary source collections and their impact on This program will give new and evolving scholarship. Many of these collections were librarians a unique opportunity to “learn the previously available in micro formats, but ropes” from those with broad and vast online full text versions have far more scope experience in their fields and areas of interest. and ease of use. Our speakers will be addressing the ways in which having access to Online form found at: such materials does more than make research http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/aboutacrl/acrlse “easier,” but actually transforms it. ctions/literaturesineng/lesmentoringform.htm
Questions? Please contact Angela Courtney at [email protected] Life as a Literature Librarian with and developing cooperative efforts with international libraries and librarians to accurately and effectively begin building the IU One of the greatest challenges I faced upon Libraries’ Anglophone Literature collection becoming the bibliographer for English and both currently and retrospectively; to American Literature at Indiana University was determine sources for acquiring materials that not simply continuing to build and maintain a have historically been unavailable or difficult collection that is nationally and internationally to obtain outside of their country of origin; to recognized as one of high quality and document and publish my experiences of thoroughness, but rather how to augment its building an Anglophone Literature collection historical strengths by incorporating emerging and reinterpreting collection building trends in literary criticism and scholarship to techniques for the 21st century. The latter make a good collection stronger and more objective, a scholarly publication on the relevant to current and anticipated movements practicalities of starting, building, maintaining, in literary scholarship. Recent trends include and/or manicuring an Anglophone Literature Anglophone literature from Australia, New collection would be of great importance to Zealand, the West Indies, India, and more. Literature librarians who have no first-hand Historically, IU’s library has not actively knowledge or experience in this area. A collected literature (fiction, poetry, drama) particularly strong and resource-rich area of from Anglophone countries at the research Anglophone Literature is that of Australia and, level. Yet the terminology used in this context to a lesser-degree, New Zealand, and I saw this refers to literature written outside of Great as an appropriate avenue to begin with building Britain and America. However, many of the an Anglophone Literature collection, in part Anglophone writers are not particularly because of an interested and broad network concerned with the impact of colonialism on from which I could learn. their cultures, which is one reason that current During my trip to Australia and New Zealand, literary criticism does not always bear the funded in part by an International more common "Postcolonial," “Postimperial,” Opportunities for Libraries and Librarians Grant or “Commonwealth” literatures labels. Further, and the Herbert S. White Librarian these writers have not, historically, been Development Award, I began this process actively included in English literature library through which I could improve the IU Libraries’ collections. collections in Anglophone literatures. My goals In my first semester at Indiana University, I were: 1) to understand and establish collection realized that Anglophone literature was already patterns by meeting with and discussing becoming a part of the English Department’s cooperative efforts with international libraries curriculum. A survey of recent library and librarians to accurately and effectively literature indicates that little if anything has begin building the IU Libraries’ Anglophone been written regarding successful methodology Literature collection both currently and for retrospective assessment or collection retrospectively; 2) to determine sources for building, either prescriptive or anecdotal. Most acquiring materials that have historically been research publications that address this area unavailable or difficult to obtain outside of tend to be centered solely on compiling their country of origin; 3) to document my reference sources and pathfinders for experiences of building an Anglophone postcolonial literature and do not focus on Literature collection and reinterpreting actual collection building and international collection building techniques for the 21st cooperative efforts to expand this field. Many century. I am pleased with the progress on all scholars are making their reputations on work 3 areas. in Anglophone literatures. This dichotomy The people who I was fortunate to be able to creates a situation in which libraries must meet with were all genuinely interested in this either act quickly to keep up with the direction project and generously gave me their time and of the discipline or find themselves years down experience to help me develop a system of the road trying to catch up with faculty needs. retrospective and proactive collection Current scholarship will create a greater development. I visited the University of demand for Anglophone literature. Auckland, University of Sydney, and Melbourne My objective was three-fold: to understand University. Each visit proved to be very and establish collection patterns by meeting different and offered equally practical insight libraries and material, this time with an into undertaking such a project. interdisciplinary approach inspired greatly by I met with the Librarian for English my meetings in Melbourne. Literature at the University of Auckland. She took the unique approach of coordinating Angela Courtney meetings for me with their acquisitions Indiana University department, the special collections [email protected] department, and with a professor in the English department and an expert on New Zealand and Maori authors. The acquisitions department shared with me their preferred vendors, and The Lesbian Pulp Fiction Collection noted which ones were particularly good for international purchases. The professor showed at Mount Saint Vincent University me many useful resources that students use for Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia, his classes, and he also walked me through new Canada digital initiatives that are underway. He also asked my opinion of their library’s collections Mount Saint Vincent - “the Mount” started as in American literature, particularly regional an academy established by the Sisters of writers. My librarian counterpart similarly Charity in Halifax in 1873. In 1925 the Nova showed me a variety of reference sources that Scotia Legislature awarded Mount Saint Vincent their library considers of the utmost the right to grant degrees, making it the only importance. My conversations with her were independent women’s college in the British particularly interesting because we were each Commonwealth. able to learn more about the other’s career At the time the college became Mount Saint and to see that the need for subject librarians Vincent University in 1966, there was a to create a network of similarly interested commitment to develop research collections in colleagues goes beyond national boundaries. the field of women’s studies. In 1967 the I met with the special collections librarian at library received donations for the Women’s the University of Sydney, where he showed me Centenary Collection of materials by and about several examples of early Australian books. He Canadian women to celebrate the 100th introduced me to two librarians who are anniversary of the confederation of Canada. spearheading their digital library initiative. Shortly afterwards the library acquired large They both very eagerly told me about the microform collections of research materials on genesis and development of their digital the global history of women and women in the programs, and expressed interest at the peace movement. In 1985 Petro-Canada, a possibility of collaborative work at sometime in major Canadian oil company, provided Mount the future. Notably, they have established a Saint Vincent with an endowment which for program with the University of Sydney Press twenty years has generated an annual fund to through which the texts they have digitized can purchase materials in women’s studies. In 1986 be printed on demand for purchase. Projects the Women’s Studies Department was founded. such as this one will be invaluable for efforts at Currently, Mount Saint Vincent, in partnership retrospective collection development. with Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s Finally, I met with the special collections University, offers an MA in Women’s Studies. In librarian at Melbourne University. He was 2001 a BA program with a major in Cultural particularly interested in my project, and Studies was introduced. through our discussions we began to see vast The impetus for acquiring the books in the similarities and equally vast divergences Lesbian Pulp Fiction Collection came from Dr. between our countries. Our explorations of Rhoda Zuk, a professor in the English their special collections made evident parallels Department, who in 1996 taught a course in not only in publishing history, but also in types Feminism and Popular Culture. Part of the of writing and as a result in national character. Petro-Canada fund income was used to These parallels offer endless potential for purchase the bulk of the collection from Kaya library development and academic exploration. Books, a Halifax bookseller, and from a New Currently I am working with a colleague at IU York collector. to continue this project with Australian The Lesbian Pulp Fiction collection consists Unnatural using the name Sloan Britton. Male of 120 paperback books shelved in a locked writers also adopted female pseudonyms : cabinet adjacent to the Library’s reference Robert Silverberg wrote Strange Delights as book collection. Each title is recorded in the Loren Beauchamp and Paul Little wrote From library’s online catalog, and may be borrowed Torment to Rapture as Sylvia Sharon. for a three-hour period. Some writers do suggest in their novels that The earliest title in the collection is The conjugal happiness isn’t exclusively the Strange Path by Gale Wilhelm, a 1950 preserve of heterosexuals, but might be a paperback reprint of a book published in 1938 possibility for same sex couples: witness Toni under the title Torchlight to Valhalla. The most and Morgen in The Strange Path by Gale recent title is A World Without Men by Valerie Wilhelm, Therese and Carol in The Price of Taylor, the 1982 reprint by Naiad Press of the Salt by Patricia Highsmith ( writing as Claire 1963 original. The majority date from the Morgan), Jo and Betsy in Unlike Others and golden age of lesbian pulp - the period from Kate and Erika in A World Without Men, both by 1952 to 1967. Velma Young (writing as Valerie Taylor). The collection is rich in the exemplars of the No matter if the protagonists were predator genre. The commercial success of Women’s and prey or two steadfast lovers challenging a Barracks by Tereska Torres (our copy is a 1960 repressive society, their exploits were sold to reprint of the 1950 paperback edition), with its drugstore and bus station customers employing lesbian subtext, alerted the publishing industry the conventions of pulp art. Our collection to the appeal of lesbian themes. [1.] Marijane represents the full range of pulp fiction cover Meaker (using the pseudonym Vin Packer) was art, the most common being a painting or commissioned to write Spring Fire in 1952 as a photograph of two casually attired women in Fawcett Gold Medal paperback original. While close proximity: often a self-possessed its sympathetic portrayal of a love affair brunette gazing down at her innocent blonde between two sorority sisters ensured its companion in a bedroom or other intimate popularity with a lesbian readership, Spring domestic space. Most cover art is anonymous; Fire acknowledges the prejudices of the era by fortunately many of the fine covers painted by consigning the bisexual Leda to an insane Paul Rader for Midwood-Tower bear his asylum. signature. Linnea A. Stenson contrasts the “typical” The Lesbian Pulp Fiction might seem rather lesbian pulp fiction in which a young, innocent quaint - a somewhat louche collection of girl is victimized by “the lesbian on the prowl” artifacts from the McCarthyite era when the with the rarer pro-lesbian novel with its theme traditional values extolled by the North of struggle, acceptance and hope. Stenson American establishment were challenged by wryly observes that “ given the prevalence of ideological and cultural movements as suicides and deaths, just being alive at the disparate as Communism - the “Red Menace”, close could be considered an uplifting Alfred Kinsey’s Institute for Sex Research and ending.”[2.] rock and roll. We interpret the stealthy The sense of shame and impending tragedy is prurience manifested by the lesbian pulp genre evoked in several of the collection’s titles : The in the context of Cold War anxieties, and find it Damned One by Guy Des Cars, In the Shadows both unsettling and amusing. Recent by Joan Ellis, Twilight Lovers by Miriam declarations in the United States and Canada Gardner, Veil of Torment by March Hastings, against same sex marriage and in favor of Twilight Girl by Della Martin, The Twisted Year traditional marriage suggest that many by Rea Michaels, The Evil Friendship by Vin influential sectors of society willingly arouse Packer, The Corruption of Innocence by latent anxieties. To quote from a recent letter Marianne Sinclair. The widespread use of from an alumna: “I am very disappointed that pseudonyms by the writers reinforces the sense the Mount would have such volumes on lesbians that the writing of pulp fiction, especially proudly on display. I feel that myself and my lesbian pulp fiction, was a somewhat fellow graduates are being dishonored..” While disreputable activity. Marijane Meaker is her reaction may be exceptional, it does represented in our collections under the names suggest that our collection of vintage Vin Packer and Ann Aldrich. Elaine Williams, an paperbacks still has the power to provoke and editor at Midwood, wrote The Delicate Vice and irritate. title, and it met with some resistance within 1. In 2003 I received an e-mail from Tereska the library. Torres’ agent in Tel Aviv asking us to remove The collection started as a part of the her name from our webpage browsing collection, with a 7-day checkout http://www.msvu.ca/library/collpollespulp.asp period and a budget of $500. She began the . He advised me that she did not want her collection based on award winning titles, and name associated with the genre. decided not to include Manga, a huge area but 2. Stenson, Linnea A. “Pulp Paperbacks.” In one that would also exceed the budget. Lesbian Histories and Cultures: An The collection was publicized with a display Encyclopedia. Ed. Bonnie Zimmerman. New at a library open house and emails to the York : Garland, 2000, pp.623-625. faculty. After Juliet’s presentation, the forum was Terrence Paris open for questions and discussion. Most of the Collections Development Librarian discussion centered on the key questions [email protected] concerning the limitless space that this type of work seems to occupy—It can be a fiction and it can be non-fiction. It can be foreign language Graphic Novels material. It can be placed in many areas of a library—special collections, art libraries, Graphic Novels. They seem to be browsing, regular stacks… everywhere these days or perhaps they are There is increasing interest in graphic novels finally being given the attention they deserve. on the part of graduate students. What are graphic novels? Although the concept A question was asked regarding why some of seems difficult to define, one possible the books are black and white and some are in definition is “juxtaposed pictorial and other color. The answer is that it all depends on how images in deliberate sequence intended to it was drawn and is not a money issue during convey information and/or to produce an printing. aesthetic response in the viewer” There was a discussion on whether or not (Understanding Comics: the Invisible Art by money should be diverted from other purchases Scott McCloud; Northampton, MA; Kitchen Sink for a graphic novel collection. A similar Press, 1993; p. 9). Some have called this discussion debated where the responsibility for definition “pretentious” while others have purchasing should fall, as well as where these coined their own descriptions: Alan Moore, items should be kept. Classification was creator of The League of Extraordinary discussed especially regarding call number Gentlemen, prefers ”big expensive comic ranges and assigned subject headings. book” and Art Spiegelman is partial to “comic The US Naval Academy sees the graphic book that needs a bookmark” (“Not Funnies” by novel as an effective way to get students into Charles McGrath, New York Times Magazine; the library. July 11, 2004, p 26). Whatever one chooses to Collecting graphic novels tells the current call this format, it presents some unique students that their generation is being challenges to librarians who want to collect collected and preserved. graphic novels for their libraries. Future issues regarding graphic novels may As a result of this increased interest, the include: more discussion on definition and Literatures in English Section hosted a collecting policies, preservation, classification discussion at the Membership Forum during the and cataloging, sources for purchasing and ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, MA. Notes funding, etc. from the discussion follow. Juliet Kerico from Indiana State University Notes taken by Angela Courtney (Indiana started the program by discussing how she University) with a couple of additions by started developing a collection of graphic Madeline Copp (Johns Hopkins University). novels at her institution. She also graciously brought examples of the types of works she discussed. Her collection development initially Madeline A. Copp, started with a faculty member requesting a Johns Hopkins University [email protected]
Graphic Novels Bibliography McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics. New York: Harper-Collins. 1994
Selected Bibliography of Articles: Rothschild, D. Aviva. Graphic Novels: A Bibliographic Guide to Book Length Comics. Barron, Daniel D. “Zap! Pow! Wham!: Comics, Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. 1995. Graphic Novels and Education.” School Library Media Activities Monthly 8 (Nov. 1991): 48-50. Sabin, Roger. Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels: A History Of Comic Art. London: Phaidon,. “Comics & Graphic Novel Publishing 2004.” 1996. Publishers Weekly 251.42 (Oct. 18 2004): 24-35. Weiner, Stephen. Faster Than a Speeding Gorman, Michele. “What Teens Want: Thirty Bullet: The Rise of the Graphic Novel. New Graphic Novels You Can't Live Without” School York: NBM. 2003. Library Journal (August 2002): 42-47. Weiner, Stephen and Keith R.A. DeCandido. Gravett, Paul. “Telling Tales Through Visuals.” The 101 Best Graphic Novels. New York: NBM. Library Association Record 99 (1997): 140-42. 2001.
McGrath, Charles. “Not funnies.” New York Websites: Times 11 July 2004: 24+. MoCCA – Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art: St. Lifer, Evan. “Graphic Novels, Seriously.” http://www.moccany.org School Library Journal (August 2002): 9. Comics Scholarship Annotated Bibliographies: Versaci, Rocco. “How Comic Books Can Change http://www.comicsresearch.org the Way Our Students See Literature: One Teacher’s Perspective.” English Journal See Also: Hurst, Leslie D. “Comic Book and (November 2001): 61-67. Graphic Novel Resources.” Public Libraries (March/April 2004): 91-92+. Selected Bibliography of Books: Prepared by Michael R. Macan – LES Membership Committee Crawford, Philip Charles. Graphic Novels 101 : United States Naval Academy Selecting and Using Graphic Novels to Promote [email protected] Literacy for Children and Young Adults: A Resource Guide for Librarians and Educators. Salt Lake City: Hi Willow. 2003.
Harvey, Robert C. The Art of the Comic Book: An Aesthetic History. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. 1996.
Gorman, Michele. Getting Graphic!: Using Graphic Novels to Promote Literacy With Preteens and Teens. Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing. 2003.
Lyga, Allyson A. W. and Barry Lyga. Graphic Novels in Your Media Center : A Definitive Guide. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. 2004.
McCloud, Scott. Reinventing Comics: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form. New York: Perennial. 2000
Assistant Editor: Katharine Dean Personal and Institutional News Ohio State University Libraries Information Services Department David A. Berona, Main Library, Room 126 (http://pubpages.unh.edu/~dberona) 1858 Neil Ave. University of New Hampshire, was invited to Columbus, OH 43210 present a paper on Feb. 4, 2005, at Yale 614 688-5861 University, which hosted an international [email protected] symposium and exhibition exploring the intersection of book arts and graphic art in Chair, 2004-2005: Jen Stevens Belgium. Berona is an international authority Fenwick Library on woodcut novels and his articles and papers 4400 University Drive are highly regarded by scholars in the fields of George Mason University visual art and communication. For more Fairfax, VA 22030-1000 information see: 703 993-2211 http://www.library.yale.edu/aob/belgianbooks [email protected] Lori Rowland, of the Rutgers Camden Law Library will be presenting preliminary results on Vice Chair, 2004-2005: Susanna Van Sant her study of librarians in academic novels at McKeldin Library the New Jersey Library Association College & University of Maryland University Section Research Forum in April. College Park, MD 20742-7011 If you have news of note or just want the Phone: (301) 405-9283 world to know you painted your house this Fax: (301) 314-9416 spring, please send your information to E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]. LES web site: www.ala.org/acrl/les (c) American Library Association 2005 Studies of Interest to English and American Literature Librarians (LES Bibliography): www.public.iastate.edu/~dcoffey/studies/htm Biblio-Notes (ISSN 1076-8947) is published twice a year by the Literatures in English Section of the Association of College & Research Libraries, a MLA International Bibliography in Academic division of the American Library Association (50 E. Libraries Discussion Group Huron St., Chicago IL, 60611; 800/545-2433 ext. To subscribe, send message to: 2519. Copies are free to members. [email protected] In message field type Contributions welcome. The editor especially Subscribe mlaib-l
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