On August 25^th and 28^th, librarians across the state of New Jersey were invited to attend graphic novel collection development workshops hosted by the New Jersey State Library. The comprehensive, day-long workshops featured in-depth discussions on graphic novel collections for different groups of readers and information about working with publishers.

New Jersey State Library consultant David Lisa, who helped organize the workshops, explained that “Graphic novels have become a very popular collection type in libraries. As more popular movies based upon comic book characters and storylines are made, the demand for those comics and graphic novels increases. Librarians are finding that they have unique cross-marketing possibilities through this relationship. They are also discovering that comics fandom can drive the demand for popular graphic novels in their libraries and that a good selection of graphic novels can attract hard-to-reach age groups.”

Speakers at the workshops included John Cunningham, Vice President of Marketing at DC Comics, who spoke about “What Comics Publishers Can Do For the Graphic Novel Needs of Librarians”; Librarian David Inabnitt of the Brooklyn Public Library, who provided a talk on “Manga Collection Development for Complete Newbies”; School Librarian Sophie Brookover of Eastern Regional Senior High School in Voorhees, NJ, on “Graphic Novel Collection Development for Schools and Children’s Sections in Public Libraries”; and Librarian Laverne Mann of the Mercer County Library in Ewing NJ, on “Creating Your Adult and YA Graphic Novel Collection.” Slide shows and notes from each presentation are available here.

Lisa found response to the program encouraging. “It was the State Library’s goal to provide in-depth graphic novel collection development training to our librarians through these workshops. We realize that there is great demand for this form of literature and we were happy to team with noted speakers in both the comics and library fields in order to accomplish that. We think that the librarians that attended the workshops are now better able to buy manga and in-demand items for their adult, young adult and children’s graphic novel departments as well.”

The workshop organizers have also created a helpful website where those interested in GN collection development can find notes from the presentations, links to core lists and informational sites, and pictures of graphic novel displays in New Jersey libraries.

Those interested in creating similar workshops at the state level are encouraged to check out the site and contact David Lisa for additional information.