The last session of the day, on the last day of the conference no less, Manga Goes to School, was heavily attended. Could it be the draw of the topic or the expertise of the presenters? Actually, it was both. Manga is all the buzz among young people across the country. It is read quickly and has a loyal following. If you are a school librarian like me, or a youth services librarian, this is a topic you need to keep on top of.
I am embarrassed to admit I am not a reader of Manga. I have attempted to find my genre within the format, but unfortunately it just isn’t my desired format. Fortunately for me and you there are experts in Manga who are more then willing to share their experience and expertise with anyone willing to listen. Ashley Hawkins, Emily Ratica, Sara Smith, Julie Stivers, and Sybil “Mouna” Touré authors of upcoming ALA book Manga Goes to School are some of the experts who shared their wealth of knowledge with the eager to learn.
While Ashley Hawkins was unable to attend ALA in person, this did not stop her from sharing. Her recorded part of the presentation was funny yet informative. She explained the basics of manga, from how the word is pronounced and a very quick language lesson noting that s is not added to Japanese words, so manga is both the singular and plural. Ashely stressed the importance of not stating that manga is read backwards. Stating that gives a negative connotation to the format. Manga is read differently than English, like many other languages.
The session continued explaining that manga is read in continuity, you start with the first volume and move on from there. There was so much to learn from this session that I couldn’t possibly include it all in one blog post. Each presenter shared their expertise and concluded each section of the presentation with their favorites and recommendations. Most importantly they concluded their presentation stating you don’t have to read manga to be able to recommend it. There are experts you can ask and websites you can visit. Making connections with kids through manga is a rewarding experience. Manga Goes to School will be available through ALA this winter and will prove to be a priceless resource for librarians everywhere.
Conference Blogger Arlene Laverde (she/her/hers) is a very recent (July 1, 2024) NYCPS retiree. She has been the school librarian at Townsend Harris High School in Queens NY for ten years and worked in various high schools and elementary schools in Brooklyn and Queens. When in school she never considered librarianship as a career. She started as an elementary school teacher and accidentally fell into the role as a school librarian. She hasn’t looked back since. She is currently serving as co-chair for the AASL 2025 National Conference in St. Louis and will be attending the Morris Seminar in Denver, Colorado this September. She’s looking forward to the Newbery Caldecott Legacy Banquet, as well as not only reconnecting with friends from around the country, but meeting new ones throughout the conference. Now that she is a retiree, all things are possible and looks forward to exploring her many interests, as well as the continued fight for library advocacy. Twitter handle: @THHSLibrary
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.