Stackfest: Librarians in the Comics Fray
by Ann Kim, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 2/27/2007
Four graphic novel panels aimed at librarians took up the trade day on Friday during the second New York Comic-Con. Sponsored by Brodart, Diamond Book Distributors and Library Journal, “Stackfest,” as the series of panels were dubbed, attracted 60–100 librarians of the 400 who had registered for the con.
John Shableski, graphic novels coordinator for Brodart, moderated with verve and enthusiasm. He explained, “The perfect storm has arrived. All the elements are coming together. Five [TV] networks have anime programming and Heroes is a phenomenon. And libraries are the first and best places for diversity.”
The panels included librarian luminaries in the graphic novel field, such as Kat Kan, a consultant and writer/reviewer who was an Eisner Comics Industry Awards judge in 2005, and Robin Brenner, a newly announced Eisner Awards judge for 2007. An easy back-and-forth between the panelists and the audiences drove the direction of discussion. Overall, the feeling was collaborative, informative and reinforced the growing popularity of graphic novels and that librarians are and should be leaders of that trend.
Every panelist agreed that graphic novel collections have one of the highest circulation rates in the library, which will likely motivate libraries that are lagging in the category or working to maintain their collection. When there was discussion of labeling and categorizing graphic novels by genre, Alison Hendon, Brooklyn Public Library, said, "We don't designate [by genre]. They're all going to circulate anyway."
During the anime panel, there was agreement that considering the demand and success of manga, the audience for anime is already in place. Eva Volin, Stockton–San Joaquin County Public Library, said, "You don't need to cross-promote—the kids who like manga will get anime and vice versa." Chris Oarr of ADV also chimed in, saying, “Anime has retained its price point; it's an expensive hobby. Anime is a great way to distinguish yourself from your local Blockbuster."
The panel also addressed the secondary effects of manga., “Kids develop a fascination with Japanese culture,” Kan said. “Not only do they want to create manga, they want to learn Japanese and pick up bits about the culture." Brenner agreed: "It encourages conversations about cultural differences and viewpoints."
The panel on graphic novel classics generated a spirited debate about what constituted a classic work, but the consensus was that a graphic novel classic was not only time-tested and popular, like Alan Moore’s Watchmen, but could also be a landmark work in its era. Brenner pointed out that the market was changing and some classics are no longer considered so. Stephen Weiner, Maynard Public Library, Mass., also noted: "What's award winning in the industry isn't necessarily award winning in the library."
Other discussion during the day ranged from shelving, anime clubs, age ratings and the importance of libraries and local comic retailers reaching out and forming partnerships with each other. For more in-depth postconference coverage of the librarian panels, visit the Library Journal Web site.
