I’ve been hearing about the Magical Comics Tea (a ticketed event sponsored by the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table) for years, but missed out on tickets until now. The event didn’t disappoint! Over the course of the event, I had the opportunity to meet 15 comic-creators! Attendees are seated at small tables and the comic creators rotate between tables and spend about 5 minutes with each group. Does this sound a lot like a game of musical chairs to you, too? This event is structured much like YALSA’s coffee klatch, and I was impressed that all of the creators managed to keep their energy up as they chatted with all of us. The event was a whirlwind, and excellent fun!
Tag: graphic novels
Addressing Comics Challenges Community Zine Project
For the last two years, I’ve had the honor of co-chairing ALSC’s Intellectual Freedom Committee. The timing of my chairmanship has been interesting to say the least, as more and more school and public libraries have faced organized efforts to undermine the freedom to read.
Gather Round for the ALA Round Tables at #alaac2023
Before #alaac2023 officially started, some of the ALA Round Tables were hosting pre-conference events. Since 2007, the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) has hosted a Friday Forum before the ALA opening session.
Graphic Novels for Mental Health #alaac23
The Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table kicked off #ALAAC23 on Friday with an informative and inspiring discussion forum on graphic medicine and mental health. Panelists included librarian Soline D. Holmes and authors Natalie Norris, Elizabeth Trembley, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka.
Magical Tea with #libcomix
Saturday was a “magical” day at #ALAAC2022. The Graphic Novel and and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) hosted a tea. But, this was not just any tea party. Attendees (it was a ticketed event) got to meet publishers and creators in a speed dating format. There were some festive costumes including a GNCRT member dressed as Alice in Wonderland.
Comics Challenges with the #GNCRT at #ALAAC2022
I started my #ALAAC2022 experience with the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table’s (#GNCRT) Friday Forum which focused on Comics Challenges. Taking place from 11-3, there were three unique panels comprised of creators, publishers, and librarians. The first panel (which, full disclosure, I also moderated) was about challenges among award-winning books. The second panel focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion in comics. The forum ended with a panel about concrete tips on how to address comics challenges.
Winterizing Your Library Programming
Summer READing prep you say? So, preppers are prepping like crazy for summer reading. But, let’s face it: it’s still winter! Spring ain’t gonna spring anytime soon and the groundhog’s only just thinking about making some French press. While you’re doing your headless chicken routine hiring and lining up summertime performers, have a gander here for some great ideas for sort of now-ish! Don’t let the icy conditions slip you up! Okay, no more puns…for now! ; )) Feb Planning! 1 Students learn about George Washington Carver with this reading passage. [READ MORE] 2 This art-based idea focuses on the work of Langston Hughes, a well-known African American author who wrote poetry and plays. [READ MORE] 3 With adventurous characters, exciting plots, and three to five chapters per book, Leaves Chapter Books check all the boxes to engage beginning readers. [LEARN MORE] 4 Want more activities for Black History Month? [READ MORE] 8 Fun Facts about…
The Annoying SpiderMan: Overcoming the Shelving Challenges of Comics & Graphic Novels Through In-House Classification #LibLearnX
Every time I am shelving in our comics and graphic novels section, I face the following reality: comics and graphic novels do not easily conform to our traditional classification schemes. LibLearnX Presenter Jack Phoenix knows this and offered a fantastic presentation on in-house classification alternatives that just might fix the problem AND make your comics and graphic novels more browsable, more visually appealing, and more accessible. Phoenix, author of the 2020 book Maximizing the Impact of Comics in Your Library: Graphic Novels, Manga, and More, noted librarian’s tendency to shoehorn things that aren’t traditional books into systems that don’t support them before reminding participants that, “Dewey didn’t see these things coming.” The traditional practice of organizing titles by creator does not work for comics for many reasons, not least of which is the argument made by Phoenix that, “Creator or even title are often not the main point of access”…