2a.+School+Libraries+-+Responses

=Elementary:=

We only have the graphic series "Bone", also a very small collection of the Bank Street graphics (classic works of literature retold in simple form) on our shelves at the moment. These two sets were donated through staff and a wholesale book company. Occasionally, we would pick up a few of the "Bones" through the Scholastic book fair. Requests from students also come into play. All are catalogued as novels(by author) and shelved as such.

L.R. (retired gr.5 teacher) used them in her lessons last year.

NO, we do not carry comic books. =Middle School #1:=

I have three baskets of graphic novels, just labelled "graphic novels". The students find it easy to flip through them that way. One basket is for the "Timeline" series of graphic novels which are based on actual historical events in history. These are great.

At the middle school level the graphic novels are popular, but really only with readers who find reading challenging. I actually don't find the top students seeking out graphic novels that often. Kids who like "manga" stuff, the artsy kids, like them.

For selection, graphic novels are not reviewed professionally as much as traditional novels; however, they certainly require closer scrutiny because the colorful and comic appearance might lead a person to think they are harmless and funny. Many are not. So I look carefully at each one before I buy it, and then again before we catalogue it. I don't buy a lot, and often buy the ones that are clearly meant for children .... not teens.

I like to select graphic novels personally in book stores, rather than order online or through catalogues where you can't really see the whole story.

The only "comic books" we have are Archie digests. This is because my daughter had been addicted to them at one point in her life,and when she left home she gave them all to me for the library. I spend no funds on comic books.

Also, I make sure that students/teachers do not fall into the habit of calling graphic novels "comic books" as I feel there is a big difference, as I am sure you will agree.

= Middle School #2: =

The procedure for graphic novels is based on my looking at the novels and deciding what I think is good. I tend to purchase graphic novels which reflect good literature in a graphic form. In addition, I look for non-fiction graphic novels which cover curriculum topics or topics I know kids are interested in. We tag the graphic novels on the spines as we do other genres and we have a section where we keep them. They are often in prominent place on display as I am trying to hook the non-readers with them. I often have boys in mind when I buy graphic novels.

The only comics we carry are Asterix and Tin Tin. =High School #1:=

I haven't ordered that many graphic novels for our library, and the ones that I have ordered have usually been because of a recommendation of a staff member.

Two years ago I worked with D.B. to order graphic novels for inclusion in the DRC collection. The process we used was to contact Vancouver Kids Books and ask them to send us $X worth of preview titles and we made our selections from them. At the time I made the request, I asked them to include any titles they had that were also part of the current Booklist (the ALA Journal) top 10 graphic novels.

I learned about Vancouver Kids Books from the Teacher Librarian who took over at my last school in Mission. She told me that anything the staff recommended for young adults would fly off the shelves. I've since used them to order a lot of our fiction and it is very true. They are very up to date in what is popular with young people. L.B. was the staff person who specialised in YA fiction - don't know if she is still there. The March 15, 2011 issue of Booklist has made Graphic Novels their "spotlight" topic.

No comics - unless we are sent a sample from a publisher. These are put out with the magazines.

= High School #2: =

This was the response from the librarian:
= = I am afraid I really don't have too much to say as graphic novels were not something that I really supported for a long time. Being at the high school level, we (English Dept. & I) thought that simple novels (low reading levels) were probably more beneficial to the students but over time our priority changed. Now several different plays (Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet etc.) have have been purchased in the graphic novel format but these are not displayed and are just founded in the book room along with all the other textbooks. As for the library, the graphic novels are displayed in our easy to read section except for a few of the series that I bought like ... Bleach and Naruto and Manga and they are located under the author's last name. That's it. = =

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K's Resource Centre (Library) has an "aspiring" collection of Manga and Graphic Novels. The Teacher Librarian does the majority of these Library purchases. These are often the books that are sourced for reluctant-readers, so students' suggestions and opinions are welcomed through informal discussions with Library Staff. ======

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There exists a specific pleasure-reading, Manga-loving student crew at K, and it has been agreed that should trending items, i.e; "Vampire" Graphic Novels...be requested or found, they may be purchased by the Library Clerk. This is an ideal "used" book purchase target due to the transient nature of the topics and the wear-and-tear given by these particular readers. ======

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The Learning Centre & English Department request Graphic Novel Texts to use in their classroom settings. There are various reading levels requested and purchased such as Original, Modern and Plain texts. The illustrations are brightly colored and capture the readers’ attention immediately. In addition, these items are screened for age appropriateness, given the emerging adolescent clientele, and discussed with colleagues and formal leaders, as needed. ======

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These items are catalogued and processed according to K's Library procedure, however unlike the above mentioned Library items, Graphic Novels Texts are not displayed in the Library but kept in the Textbook Room until signed out by individual students in these classes. ======