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Obsession resumes

March 13, 2007 by

I was reading Kate Culkin’s PWCW profile of the delightful Aya (Drawn & Quarterly), and I came to a screeching halt when I read this:

“The ALA has nominated the book as one of its 2008 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.”

What?! There’s a new round of nominations?! Why wasn’t I informed?! To the search engine!

Ahhhh, Young Adult Library Services Association… it’s been too long.

Anyway, it’s a nice first round of nominees with some personal favorites (After School Nightmare, Emma, Goong) and some books I’m looking forward to reading (The Plain Janes, The Tiny Tyrant).

Filed under: Awards and lists, Comics in libraries, Linkblogging 2 Comments

First reading

February 8, 2007 by

And here’s the Democrat-News report on the first reading of the materials selection policy at yesterday’s meeting of the Marshall Public Library Board. A final vote will follow at the next meeting of the board scheduled for March 17.

Two Marshall citizens contributed their views on the policy. One wore an “I Read Banned Books” button, and the other suggested that library patrons could “find these types of trash along I-70.” Ah, nuanced public discourse.

And here, for anyone curious, are the selection criteria that the library system uses:

“The factors are: constraints of budget; contemporary/social significance; critical acclaim; format and durability of material suitable for library use; local interest; patron requests; popular demand; reputation and significance of author, illustrator, editor, artist, performer, etc.; reputation/authority of author; scarcity of material on the subject and availability elsewhere; and/or timeliness and/or permanence or subject matter.”

Anyone care to play a round of Count the Applicable Criteria? I think Fun Home meets at least five, but I could never make it all the way through Blankets.

Filed under: Comics in libraries, Marshall library controversy 7 Comments

Nearing the finish line

February 8, 2007 by

There was a more comprehensive preview of the Marshall Public Library’s proposed materials selection policy in yesterday’s Democrat-News.

Here’s the process the committee has designed:

  • A library patron submits a written request for reconsideration of material they find questionable.
  • After informing the library board of the request, the library director evaluates the material based on selection criteria, possibly seeking input from other parties.
  • The material in question will remain available on reserve for in-library use.
  • The library director will notify the patron of the decision regarding the request.
  • The patron can appeal the director’s decision to the library board if they disagree with the outcome, and the board’s decision will be final.

    • The library board was scheduled to review and possibly approve the policy proposal during last night’s meeting.

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    This just in

    January 26, 2007 by

    And the Marshall Democrat-News provides an update on last night’s final meeting of the library’s materials selection policy development committee. The group approved the new policy unanimously, and the draft will be brought before the library board Feb. 7 for discussion and possible approval.

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    Other YALSA winners

    January 26, 2007 by

    Let’s just retroactively declare it “Comics in Libraries Week” at Precocious Curmudgeon, shall we?

    I followed Kat Kan’s pointers to see what other graphic novels had been recognized on other lists developed by the Young Adult Library Services Association. (I stretched the definition to include books about graphic novels and some featuring contributions from graphic novelists. All of the descriptive text below is YALSA’s.)

    2007 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers:

    Non-Fiction:

    Halls, Kelly Milner and Spears, Rick and others. Tales from the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures that May or May Not Exist. 2006. illus. Darby Creek Publishing, $18.95. (ISBN-10, 1-58196-049-2; ISBN-13, 9781581960495).

    Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-Characters and Cool Cat Girls of Japanese Comics. 2006. illus. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (ISBN-10, 0-8230-2977-8; ISBN-13, 9780823029778).

    Fiction:

    Araki, Hirohiko. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures, Vol. 1. Tr. by Alexis Kirsch. 2005. illus. Viz, $7.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59116-754-X; ISBN-13, 9781591167549).

    Chayamachi, Suguro. Devil May Cry 3: Volume One: Code One: Dante. Tr. by Ray Yoshimoto. 2005. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59816-031-1; ISBN-13, 9781598160314).

    Giffen, Keith and Roman, Benjamin. I Luv Halloween Series. 2005-2006. illus. Tokyopop, $9.99 ea.

    Gruner, Jessica and Parker, Buzz. Emily the Strange: The Lost Issue. 2005. illus. Dark Horse, $7.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59307-429-8; ISBN-13, 9781593074296). [Also made the Top Ten list.]

    Marunas, Nathanial and Craddock, Erik. Manga Claus: The Blade of Kringle. 2006. illus. Penguin/Razorbill, $12.99. (ISBN-10, 1-59514-134-0; ISBN-13, 9781595141347).

    2007 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults:

    Get Creative:

    Barry, Lynda. One Hundred Demons. 2005. Sasquatch Books, $17.95. (1-57061-459-8). When you’ve got hundreds of demons, art can help you defeat them.

    Hart, Christopher. Manga Mania: How to Draw Japanese Comics. 2001. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (0-8230-3035-0). Learn ways to create your own manga.

    O’Neil, Dennis. The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics. 2001. Watson-Guptill, $19.95. (0-8230-1027-9). Comic books are more than pretty pictures; learn how to make them fly.

    Talbot, Bryan. The Tale of One Bad Rat. 1995. Dark Horse Comics, $14.95. (1-56971-077-5). A girl and her rat escape abuse.

    Yazawa, Ai. Paradise Kiss, Vol. 1. 2002. Tokyopop, $9.99. (1-931514-60-7). Book smart Yukari finds her life turned upside-down when she agrees to model for fashion school students.

    I’m Not Making This Up:

    Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis, Vol. 1: the Story of a Childhood. 2004. Pantheon Books, $11.95. (0-375-71457-X). Words and drawings tell the story of growing up during the Islamic revolution.

    Religion: Relationship with the Divine:

    Tezuka, Osamu. Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu. 2006. Vertical, Inc., $14.95. (1-932234-56-X). The first in an 8-volume graphic novelization of the life of Siddhartha, the prince who became Buddha.

    What’s so Funny?:

    Azuma, Kiyohiko. Yotsuba&!: Volume 1. 2005. A. D. Vision, Inc., $9.99 (1-4139-0317-7). Yotsuba is one strange girl!

    Groening, Matt. Simpsons Comics Barn Burner. 2005. HarperCollins, $14.95. (0-06-074818-4). D’oh!

    Smith, Jeff. Out From Boneville. 2005. Graphix, $9.99. (0-439-70640-8). Here a Bone, there a Bone.

    If I missed anything in my scans through the lists, please leave a comment and I’ll update the post.

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    More from Marshall

    January 26, 2007 by

    The Marshall Democrat-News provided a more extensive summary of the most recent meeting of the library committee tasked to develop a materials selection policy after a citizen complained about the presence of Craig Thompson’s Blankets and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home on the shelves.

    Here are some highlights:

    On the possibility of labeling graphic novels for content:

    “At the committee’s last meeting on Thursday, Jan. 11, the committee decided not to assign a prejudicial label [for graphic novels] or segregate them by a prejudicial system.”

    On materials selection in general:

    “Materials will be chosen by reviews, public demand, budget factors, recognition on a best-sellers list, and many other aspects of available information.”

    On a formal process for reconsidering material that’s been challenged by a library patron:

    “The agreement apparently reached by the committee allows a patron to fill out and submit a request for reconsideration of materials. The next step is for the director to review the criteria for why it was chosen and should or should not remain in the library. The director may ask staff or outside resources, such as another library, for additional information on the material or materials in question. When a request is filed, the director will inform the board president immediately and the president will inform the rest of the board.”

    Another meeting of the library committee was held last night, so more concrete conclusions will apparently be forthcoming.

    Filed under: Comics in libraries, Marshall library controversy 1 Comment

    It's here! It's here!

    January 25, 2007 by

    The final Great Graphic Novels for Teens list has been released by the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Services Association, with eight non-fiction and 59 fiction selections. As YASLA puts it:

    “The inaugural committee was dedicated to making a strong list that showcases a wide range of quality materials. The list includes everything from serious non-fiction to high fantasy, romantic manga to superhero parodies.”

    Here’s a breakdown of how publishers did in terms of titles and books recognized:

    Airship Entertainment: 1 title, 1 book.
    AiT/PlanetLar: 1 title, 1 book.
    Ballantine Books: 1 title, 1 book.
    Café Digital: 1 title, 1 book.
    Dark Horse: 2 titles, 2 books.
    DC Comics (all imprints): 9 titles, 9 books.
    Digital Manga Publishing: 1 title, 3 books.
    Drawn and Quarterly: 2 titles, 2 books.
    Evil Twin: 1 title, 1 book.
    Fantagraphics: 2 titles, 2 books.
    First Second: 4 titles, 4 books.
    Go! Comi: 1 title, 1 book.
    Graphix: 1 title, 1 book.
    Harper Collins: 1 title, 1 book.
    Ice Kunion: 1 title, 3 books.
    Image: 3 titles, 3 books.
    Henry Holt: 1 title, 1 book.
    Hill and Wang: 1 title, 1 book.
    Marvel: 7 titles, 10 books.
    NBM: 2 titles, 2 books.
    Oni Press: 2 titles, 2 books.
    Seven Seas Entertainment: 1 title, 1 book.
    Simon and Schuster: 1 title, 1 book.
    Tokyopop: 4 titles, 4 books.
    Viper Comics: 2 titles, 2 books.
    Viz: 3 titles, 6 books.
    Watson-Guptill: 1 title, 1 book.

    So that’s Marvel with the largest number of books, and DC with the largest number of titles, but the committee certainly shared the wealth among publishers big and small, new and venerable. First Second and Tokyopop tied for third in number of titles with four each, though Viz surpassed both in number of books.

    And yes, Identity Crisis did make the list, and made the cut for the Top Ten, so it shows what I know.

    Filed under: Awards and lists, Comics in libraries 3 Comments

    From the stacks

    January 24, 2007 by

    As Heidi MacDonald notes, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association has released its 2007 list of Best Books for Young Adults. Gene Yang’s American Born Chinese (First Second) made it all the way to the Top Ten, and there were other graphic novels on the larger list:

    Fiction:

  • Eldred, Tim. Grease Monkey: A Tale of Growing Up in Orbit. 2006. illus. Tom Doherty/Tor, $27.95. (ISBN-10, 0-7653-1325-1; ISBN-13, 9780765313256).
  • Lat. Kampung Boy. 2006. illus. Roaring Brook/First Second, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59643-121-0; ISBN-13, 9781596431218).
  • Murphy, Sean. Off Road. November 2005. illus. Oni Press, $11.95. (ISBN-10, 1-932644-30-0; ISBN-13, 9781932644300).
  • Stassen, Jean-Philippe. Deogratias, a Tale of Rwanda. 2006. illus. Roaring Brook/First Second, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59643-103-2; ISBN-13, 9781596431034).
  • Yang, Gene Luen. American Born Chinese. 2006. illus. Roaring Brook/First Second, $16.95. (ISBN-10, 1-59643-152-0; ISBN-13, 9780596431522).

    • Non-fiction:

  • Jacobson, Sid and Colon, Ernie. The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation. 2006. illus. Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Hill and Wang, $30. (ISBN-10, 0-8090-5738-7; ISBN-13, 9780809057382).

    • In other YALSA news, Robin Brenner has announced that the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list has been finalized.

    Filed under: Awards and lists, Comics in libraries, First Second, Oni 6 Comments

    Missed it

    January 23, 2007 by

    There was another update on the materials selection policy development process at the Marshall Public Library in the Jan. 19 edition of the Democrat-News. The policy is apparently close to being completed, and the group will meet again on Thursday, Jan. 25.

    Filed under: Comics in libraries, Marshall library controversy 1 Comment

    Up against the wall

    December 14, 2006 by

    ICv2 posts the You Higuri poster for libraries I mentioned yesterday. As one might have expected, it’s gorgeous, and I love the tag line.

    Carolyn makes some excellent suggestions for other manga possibilities. The bookish boys of Off*Beat would be particularly ideal. And I can’t believe I forgot to consider the incompetent invaders of Sgt. Frog.

    Filed under: Comics in libraries, Go! Comi, ICv2 5 Comments
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