Week 13 Prompt

I would be interested to learn the arguments that Erin used to convince acquisitions to purchase the graphic novel book club kit.  The argument I would use is that the library serves to promote literacy as well as a place to disseminate information.  The fact of the matter is that some people are visually oriented.  They understand, process, and enjoy the story much more fully when visuals are used to expand on the text. 

The second argument I would use is that graphic novels are another means to tell a story. The story is told with more sophistication because it involves not only words, but also artistic skill in creating the images.  The images also convey the motion and emotion with a force that the words alone may not be able to convey.

The third argument is that every book needs a reader.  The graphic novels are consistently and regularly read. 

The fourth argument is that this is not only a great way to introduce people to new art and storytelling, but also a new way to tell the classic stories.  I have enjoyed Gareth Hinds’ work. http://www.garethhinds.com/books.php I introduced my son to the stories of the Odyssey and Beowulf through graphic novels.  They kept his attention while hitting on the major scenes from the stories.  I am looking forward to reading Hinds’ graphic novels on Shakespeare’s work next.

The things I would do to promote young adult, new adult, and graphic novels for adults are the following.  Adults need to know that they exist in the first place.  Every few weeks I would have displays that people have to look at when they are walking into the library that have examples of new graphic novels, young adult and new adult materials.  Other displays would place movie/book/audio book/graphic novel all together so people can have their choice of the means by which to engage the story.  It’s the story and that people are engaging with the story that matters, not the means in which the story is conveyed.

I think the “It’s OK to read this” sign that Erin has on her blog would be great to put where the Young Adult/New Adult/Graphic Novels are.  Sometimes permission has to be given in order for people to go into those other areas of the library or to connect with their inner graphic novel self. However, two other things to do are to put a display of the YA/NA/GN near the adult fiction section with staff recommendations. Erin, etc. recommends this. I would also include an image with the name.  If some, ahem, chronologically mature person is recommending a YA/NA/GN book then folks may see that it’s not just for a particular age group. Also, when adults see that librarians are taking this seriously enough to promote this, they might connect with this genre. If there is enough money (smiles and out loud laughter is permissible here) I would keep the YA/NA/GN stand-alone section but also intersperse some of the best sellers in with the adult fiction too.  Might both youth and adults find themselves in the grownup fiction section too?