Graphic Novels Now

First, they are always "graphic novels" and never "comic books." For one thing, not many of them are comical, not counting biting irony and sarcasm. Second, they appeal greatly to a wide range of the very people you have been trying to get into the library, including youth and reluctant readers. Goldsmith, collection management and promotion librarian at the Berkeley, California Public Library, speaks from her experience as an early collector. She covers the various definitions of graphic novels, the means of finding reviews and developing collections, the challenges of maintenance and how to overcome them, marketing and promotion, and advice on the politics surrounding graphic novels, which could create their very own interesting moments. Goldsmith includes a list of selected graphic novels by category, resources, and collection development policies. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Kristin Fletcher-Spear - VOYA

This slim volume covers the basics of the graphic novel collection, including definitions, developing and maintaining a collection, cataloging, marketing one's collection, and intellectual freedom. Goldsmith gives readers a background in the history of comics as well as the lingo of graphic novels. In developing and maintaining a collection, Goldsmith deals with reviews and potential sources for aiding librarians starting a collection as well as detailing the need for a collection development policy that covers graphic novels. Although every major professional development publisher has either offered a book on graphic novels or has a publication in the works, there is still not one that envelops all issues with graphic novels. For example, this book adds one subject that the other published books barely have touched upon-cataloging, which dissects the different approaches for cataloging graphic novels. Unfortunately the book is filled with $5 words, causing the tone to be elitist. Goldsmith admittedly defines graphic novels very narrowly, allowing no serialized books. This means that superheroes and any other books that were originally published as comic books are not mentioned; manga and Japanese comics have only the briefest mention. With this narrow definition, it does a disservice to the many librarians struggling with this popular medium. The very books ignored are the bestselling ones that readers are requesting. Although this title might have wanted to be a foundation guide on graphic novels, the best one available is still Michele Gorman's Getting Graphic! (Linworth, 2003/VOYA June 2004). 2005, ALA Editions, 120p.; Index. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading. Appendix., $35 pb.Ages adult professional.