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Scott (librarian, Michigan State U. Libraries) covers comics librarianship as a specialty, acquisitions, storage and preservation, cataloging, and "being the expert," and describes how and why a world- class comics collection has grown over the past 20 years at Michigan State. A glossary, a directory of special collections, and a list of research topics are also included. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

In The Secret Origins of Comics Studies, today’s leading comics scholars turn back a page to reveal the founding figures dedicated to understanding comics art. Edited by comics scholars Matthew J. Smith and Randy Duncan, this collection provides an in-depth study of the individuals and institutions that have created and shaped the field of Comics Studies over the past 75 years. From Coulton Waugh to Wolfgang Fuchs, these influential historians, educators, and theorists produced the foundational work and built the institutions that inspired the recent surge in scholarly work in this dynamic, interdisciplinary field. Sometimes scorned, often underappreciated, these visionaries established a path followed by subsequent generations of scholars in literary studies, communication, art history, the social sciences, and more. Giving not only credit where credit is due, this volume both offers an authoritative account of the history of Comics Studies and also helps move the field forward by being a valuable resource for creating graduate student reading lists and the first stop for anyone writing a comics-related literature review.

This unique guide offers fresh insights on how graphic novels and comics differ from traditional books and require different treatment in the library—from purchasing, shelving, and cataloging to readers' advisory services, programs, and curriculum. Challenging librarians to rethink some of their traditional practices, Maximizing the Impact of Comics in Your Library provides creative and proven solutions for libraries of all types that want to get comics into the hands of fans and promote readership. The author describes how libraries would benefit from an in-house classification system and organization that accounts for both publishers and series. In addition, acquiring comics can often be tricky due to renumbering of series, reboots, shifting creative teams, and more—this book shows you how to work around those obstacles. Shelving and displays that reflect comic readers' browsing habits, creative programs that boost circulation of comics and graphic novels, and how comics can play a vital role in educational institutions are also covered. • Addresses common challenges librarians face with comics and graphic novels collections, and shows how to surmount them • Offers a solutions-focused approach • Describes how comics can be used to better engage your community and to educate youth • Fills a gap in the professional literature, covering topics not touched upon in the existing literature • Serves as a vital resource for public, academic, and school libraries

Here is an entertaining and informative look at the comics industry in Australia and New Zealand. Covering all facets of the industry, authors show the vitality and diversity of the comics industry in these countries. Comics in Australia and New Zealand is a serious study that is fun to read and will delight individuals interested in the colorful world of comics. The only book of its kind in print, Comics in Australia and New Zealand covers the major aspects of the comics industry. Contributors discuss the history of Australian comics, the work of private collectors and major public collections, sales and marketing, publishers and artists, and comics in New Zealand. The book also examines comic book themes, such as heroes vs. villains or the Australian outback, and how comic books and strips provide interesting evidence of changing social attitudes and of Australian efforts to discover a national identity. Comics in Australia and New Zealand is a lively and readable educational guide for both the casual comic reader and the professional collector. Librarians, academics and students interested in popular culture and Australiana, and individuals who just like comics will find this book an enjoyable and informative read.

In a society where a comic equates with knockabout amusment for children, the sudden pre-eminence of adult comics, on everything from political satire to erotic fantasy, has predictably attracted an enormous amount of attention. Adult comics are part of the cultural landscape in a way that would have been unimaginable a decade ago. In this first survey of its kind, Roger Sabin traces the history of comics for older readers from the end of the nineteenth century to the present. He takes in the pioneering titles pre-First World War, the underground 'comix' of the 1960s and 1970s, 'fandom' in the 1970s and 1980s, and the boom of the 1980s and 1990s (including 'graphic novels' and Viz.). Covering comics from the United States, Europe and Japan, Adult Comics addresses such issues as the graphic novel in context, cultural overspill and the role of women. By taking a broad sweep, Sabin demonstrates that the widely-held notion that comics 'grew up' in the late 1980s is a mistaken one, largely invented by the media. Adult Comics: An Introduction is intended primarily for student use, but is written with the comic enthusiast very much in mind.

To say that graphic novels, comics, and other forms of sequential art have become a major part of popular culture and academia would be a vast understatement. Now an established component of library and archive collections across the globe, graphic novels are proving to be one of the last kinds of print publications actually gaining in popularity. Full of practical advice and innovative ideas for librarians, educators, and archivists, this book provides a wide-reaching look at how graphic novels and comics can be used to their full advantage in educational settings. Topics include the historically tenuous relationship between comics and librarians; the aesthetic value of sequential art; the use of graphic novels in library outreach services; collection evaluations for both American and Canadian libraries; cataloging tips and tricks; and the swiftly growing realm of webcomics.

In 1992, Maus, a graphic novel by Art Spiegelman, won the Pulitzer Prize. The genre has been growing ever since, appealing to the visual-oriented Gen-X and Gen-Y, as well as to reluctant readers, those of all ages seeking alternative viewpoints, and anyone willing to take both image and word into consideration. Graphic Novels Now helps librarians new to the genre with all the key issues related to these unique books. Expert author Francisca Goldsmith shares smart advice, from how to develop a well-rounded collection by finding reviews and reliable publishers and distributors to shelving, catal.

Here is an accessible book containing strategies to help librarians expand their popular culture collections in an organized manner. Many publications explain why libraries should collect popular culture materials; this one explains how. Packed full of useful information, Popular Culture and Acquisitions provides numerous practical approaches to collecting this ever-expanding, often unwieldy mass of information. It aids both beginning and experienced librarians as they sort through the vast array of materials available to them. Discussions ranging from what to collect and how to collect it to what to do with the material once it’s obtained give librarians solid information on how to establish cohesive popular culture collections. Chapters provide first-hand advice on: the importance of collection development policies problems of budgets, storage, and preservation working with donors methods of resource sharing what to collect, for whom, and for what purposes the struggle for legitimacy competition from collectors and fans locating obscure acquisitions or review sources Popular Culture and Acquisitions also includes chapters on how to acquire specific types of popular culture materials, such as children’s series books, comic books, mystery and detective fiction, popular recordings, romance novels, and tabloids. Librarians attempting to collect such materials systematically will find this book to be an invaluable guide for their efforts.

Marvel Studios' approach to its Cinematic Universe--beginning with the release of Iron Man (2008)--has become the template for successful management of blockbuster film properties. Yet films featuring Marvel characters can be traced back to the 1940s, when the Captain America serial first appeared on the screen. This collection of new essays is the first to explore the historical, textual and cultural context of the larger cinematic Marvel universe, including serials, animated films, television movies, non-U.S. versions of Marvel characters, films that feature characters licensed by Marvel, and the contemporary Cinematic Universe as conceived by Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios. Films analyzed include Transformers (1986), Howard the Duck (1986), Blade (1998), Planet Hulk (2010), Iron Man: Rise of Technovore (2013), Elektra (2005), the Conan the Barbarian franchise (1982-1990), Ultimate Avengers (2006) and Ghost Rider (2007).

This critically annotated guide to reference literature of print and broadcast journalism features more than 800 descriptive and evaluative annotations. Nearly 90% of the entries are new or substantially revised, and there is a new chapter on commercial databases and Internet sources.

Explores how humor can be explained across the various sub-disciplines of linguistics, in order to aid communication.

Filling a huge void in the history of education, American Public School Librarianship provides essential background information to members of the nation's school library and educational communities who are charged with supervising and managing America's 80,000 public school libraries.