Comic Book Collections for Libraries

This thorough guide focuses on creating a core collection for adults, though much of it will also be useful for youth librarians. It begins with a brief history of comics, then moves on to a detailed explanation of their structure, including the arcs, crossovers, and continuity essential to understanding the Marvel and DC universes. An annotated list of major publishers, writers, artists, and terms follows, along with a breakdown of genres in the medium, covering not just superheroes and manga but also Westerns, crime, romance, and more. The authors give detailed information about creating, maintaining, cataloging, and promoting a collection; circulation policies; and sample Marc records and circulation reports. An entire chapter is devoted to web resources for publishers, reviews, and age-appropriatenss guidlines, followed by a glossary, a core list with ISBNs and prices, a list of Marvel and DC characters and their titles, and a recommended reading list. Armed with this book, librarians should feel confident about knowledgeably creating and maintaining a successful comic-book collection.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY