Comments on: Two ways of looking at a library http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:44:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: NVigneaux http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10758 Sat, 28 Oct 2006 08:02:08 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10758 Wouldn't it make more sense if there was a regular graphic novel section and a "youth" graphic novel section? I pick up graphic novels all the time, and even though I did feel a bit silly in the kids section looking for a graphic novel, it was worth it to read Mike Kunkel's Herobear and the kid. 8-10 year old boys are getting up after their parents are asleep to watch "erotic thrillers" on Skinamax. I highly doubt a drawing of boobs is going to rot their brains. All that talk of heaving bosoms and throbbing manhoods that can be found in romance novels are much more damaging than a small picture of nakedness. Wouldn’t it make more sense if there was a regular graphic novel section and a “youth” graphic novel section?

I pick up graphic novels all the time, and even though I did feel a bit silly in the kids section looking for a graphic novel, it was worth it to read Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the kid.

8-10 year old boys are getting up after their parents are asleep to watch “erotic thrillers” on Skinamax. I highly doubt a drawing of boobs is going to rot their brains.

All that talk of heaving bosoms and throbbing manhoods that can be found in romance novels are much more damaging than a small picture of nakedness.

]]> by: Katherine Keller http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10119 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:24:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10119 <i>This raises an interesting question… in all the libraries I’ve gone to, Graphic Novels have all been in one section (even though they come from lots of genres).</i> That's just asking for trouble. This raises an interesting question… in all the libraries I’ve gone to, Graphic Novels have all been in one section (even though they come from lots of genres).

That’s just asking for trouble.

]]> by: Brady Russell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10085 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:59:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10085 I think I meant "dispersed." I think I meant “dispersed.”

]]> by: Brady Russell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10084 Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:58:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/10/24/two-ways-of-looking-at-a-library/#comment-10084 This raises an interesting question... in all the libraries I've gone to, Graphic Novels have all been in one section (even though they come from lots of genres). Would we rather libraries disbursed them around the library according to their content and not their delivery mechanism? Or is it better for us to keep them all in one spot (which is part of what opens them up to the fear of kids seeing the one or two drawings of a naked lady in Blankets)? On the one hand it shows the work the respect it deserves as literature and its own section is a ghetto.... on the other hand, graphic novels are still breaking in to the mainstream and people are probably more likely to come looking for one comic and then look at the others next to it. so a graphic section is probably more likely to spread the love. Hmmm.... I know... Libraries should buy two copies and do both! This raises an interesting question… in all the libraries I’ve gone to, Graphic Novels have all been in one section (even though they come from lots of genres).

Would we rather libraries disbursed them around the library according to their content and not their delivery mechanism?

Or is it better for us to keep them all in one spot (which is part of what opens them up to the fear of kids seeing the one or two drawings of a naked lady in Blankets)?

On the one hand it shows the work the respect it deserves as literature and its own section is a ghetto….
on the other hand, graphic novels are still breaking in to the mainstream and people are probably more likely to come looking for one comic and then look at the others next to it. so a graphic section is probably more likely to spread the love.

Hmmm….

I know… Libraries should buy two copies and do both!

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