NextReads Newsletter, February 2013

This month's NextReads graphic novels and comics newsletter is now available!  This month, along with new releases, I've selected some fiction and nonfiction prose books that are sure to appeal to comics readers.

Read this and other NextReads newsletters by visiting Durham County Library's NextReads page.  To subscribe, select the check boxes for the genres and subjects that interest you, then scroll to the bottom of the page to create your subscription account.  Enjoy!

New Shelf: Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture

I picked up Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture from Durham County Library's new nonfiction shelf (not just the new shelf in my mind), assuming I'd ultimately find it disappointing, but I'm happy to report that I was thoroughly mistaken! Author Rob Salkowitz frames it as a book about business -- although it's shelved among books about comics, large chunks of the text could easily put it with the business philosophy books -- specifically, the San Diego Comic-Con business and its impact on the entertainment and comics industries.  I thought I'd skim over a bunch of superficial observations written for business readers, pick up an occasional nugget about comics-related event planning, and then go back to skimming.

Wrong, wrong, wrong!  It turned out to be a fascinating read, providing excellent insight into the experience of the event (both as a visitor and a participant), a look at its history, character, function, and future within the world of comics and beyond. 

The first thing Salkowitz gets right is explaining that he is a genuine comics reader/fan/nerd, and as a result will not be writing about all the "weirdos" who attend such an event.  This perspective allows him to write about geek culture as a hotbed of creativity, passion, and community, as well as one of prejudice, exclusion, and scenesterism, rather than just stopping with "Look! Nerds!"  It also allows the book to avoid being lumped in with the so-called "geek-chic" phenomenon, giving him the ability too look at Comic-Con from every angle and at every level of depth.

Salkowitz takes us with him and his wife as they attend the con, starting with pre-show setup (a luxury they afford by volunteering for the Eisner Award program), through as much attendee activity as possible, and even some exclusive after-hours events, all the while elaborating on the history and significance of this or that detail.  His descriptions cover panels and programs, controversy over vendor table geography, the culture of booksigning/sketching, the debatable significance of comics awards, competing conventions and the ways they do and do not overlap in function and attendance, and even the economics of event attendance.  He also looks at these and other phenomena through time, examining their past and speculating on their possible futures.  Although I have not attended Comic-Con myself, this appears to be as thorough as you can get without doing an intense ethnography.  All this, and it's well-written and engaging, presenting the event without fawning or being ignorantly critical -- there is certainly room for these perspectives, but Salkowitz's middle-of-the-road perspective is exactly what's needed for the book he set out to write.

As always, I kept the comics librarian in mind when reading. In my initial skepticism, I thought that maybe there would be something about programming that would be relevant; in fact, there was much more to take note of.  For one, Salkowitz helpfully breaks down Comic-Con's programs into several categories (pg. 59) and explains their purpose and structure in enough detail that programming librarians can consider how these can be modified for use in the library setting.  His exploration of the relationship between allied or competing conventions (pg. 171) is a great jumping-off place for discussing the library's relationship to existing comic shops and events.  He even devotes a significant amount of space to comics in the library (pg. 179), a discussion that he effectively segues into a consideration of changes in comics culture generally and problems with the many names people use for the medium.

The book's biggest "contribution" to the body of comics librarianship, through, is his extensive look at the rise of digital publication and its implications for publishers, sellers, and readers (pg. 190).  I don't have to tell anyone reading this blog that ebooks are at the front of everyone's minds when it comes to libraries.  Comics publishing's variable nature (issues vs. trad paperbacks vs. web-only, etc.), along with their serial storytelling, periodical format, and visual component make them an especially interesting challenge to consider in the library of the future.  I can't think of a better introduction to this issue than Salkowitz's.  Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture is an accessible, enjoyable, and informative book, and a quick read as well, so I'd definitely recommend it for comics librarians and anyone else interested in the future of ebooks in the library.

NextReads Newsletter, January 2013

This month's NextReads graphic novels and comics newsletter is now available!  This month, along with new releases, I've selected some "all-ages" books that are actually great reads for adults, and not just "kid-friendly".

Read this and other NextReads newsletters by visiting Durham County Library's NextReads page.  To subscribe, select the check boxes for the genres and subjects that interest you, then scroll to the bottom of the page to create your subscription account.  Enjoy!

Breaking Out Part 1: Who do you think you are?

Welcome to Breaking Out, a series of posts exploring the process of creating a standalone graphic novel collection in the public library.  (Apologies for the delay in picking the series back up!)

Today, Part 1: Who do you think you are?

You may already have had several conversations about moving your comics collection, whether formal or informal, and many of you may have been working on this challenge in your minds without external input.  But before you go much further, take a step back and have a good look at yourselves.  Whether you're working in a team or on your own you'll thank yourself later for getting a better understanding of who you are and what that identity brings to the table.  While this may be a good idea for any project, comics brings a peculiar kind of baggage (more on which later) that makes this self-reflection even more vital.

So who are you?  I bet you'll find that more than one apply...


Non-reader?  You may feel a bit out of your depth, but you have at least two valuable perspectives to offer right away: that of a library user with little to no assumptions or specific expectations, and that of the librarian without a personal investment in the project.  You may have to fight an instinct to "do it the way we've always done it", but you'll be excellent at challenging the assumptions of those with more experience.  Take advantage of the opportunity to introduce yourself to the medium, and don't hesitate to ask "why" when the more experienced team members are talking over your head.

Lifelong comics reader?  You probably have insight that's hard to come by among folks who are new to the medium, and that is very helpful in the process.  Keep in mind, though, that your understanding of comics may be so natural that it all feels like common sense, which can be very hard to explain to someone who doesn't share your background.  Keep a close watch of your assumptions (especially those assumptions that feel like objective truth!), and be sensitive to teammates who do not share them, but also watch for opportunities to speak up when you see misunderstanding or confusion. 

Fan?  Your passion for the medium can't be simulated, and this can be a great motivator for everyone on the project.  The intensity of your specific interests (e.g. superheroes, manga, indie/art comics) is a boon to promoting comics in the library, but in this context it may narrow your focus a bit, so check in with other folks on your committee occasionally to make sure you're tempering the specificity and keeping your eye on the bigger picture.  Don't forget, though, that your experience of comics may be the closest to that of the comics-oriented library patron, and be sure to point out (gently) when you'd feel under-served by a given idea.

Academic?  You probably have some fascinating views on the subject (and, frankly, I'd love to hear them!), but you may find that most of your knowledge is out of the scope of the conversation.  Resist discussions that are likely to leave others in the dust, and instead use the extensive information that you've accrued to keep the solutions cohesive from the broad perspective that your research has afforded you.  Your understanding may make you exactly the right person to break down misconceptions and explain why the comics world is this way or that, as long as it's relevant to finding the right solution to the problem at hand.

I'm sure there are many other ways to break down the "types" that will be involved in putting comics in their right place, not to mention the usual personalities that are involved in any team project.  Of course, if you're working alone, you'll only have yourself to deal with, though you'll find lots of information by talking with folks (both readers and owners) at comic shops, bookshops that sell comics, and of course other libraries.  Gathering thoughts from them will provide you with a makeshift team that will no doubt be happy to bounce ideas off each other and brainstorm all day. 

NextReads Newsletter, December 2012

This month's NextReads graphic novels and comics newsletter is now available!  This month, along with new releases and a title for new readers, I've selected some science fiction comics that aren't the usual spaceships-and-aliens affairs (not that there's too much of that in comics anyway). 

Read this and other NextReads newsletters by visiting Durham County Library's NextReads page.  To subscribe, select the check boxes for the genres and subjects that interest you, then scroll to the bottom of the page to create your subscription account.  Enjoy!