Beyond 741.5: creating an identity for graphic novels in an academic library’s curriculum materials center
| Date | 29 July 2024 |
| Pages | 124-128 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-01-2024-0002 |
| Published date | 29 July 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Collection building & management |
| Author | Taylor R. Casey,Gina M. Trask |
Beyond 741.5: creating an identity for
graphic novels in an academic library’s
curriculum materials center
Taylor R. Casey and Gina M. Trask
Kaplan Family Library, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York, USA
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to review an existing graphic novel collection in the curriculum materials center of an academic library. The
review would result in a clear identity for the collection and guide the creation of revised collection development, management and cataloging
processes.
Design/methodology/approach –The physical and bibliographic identities of each individual graphic novel were reviewed and compared with
collection development tools.
Findings –The review revealed a mismatch between the physical and bibliographic markers applied to some graphic novels and inconsi stencies in
the assignment of items based on audience and literature type. At the completion of the project, 43% of the graphic novels were reassigned based
on audience, literature type or both.
Originality/value –There is limited research about the collection challenges and needs of graphic novels in juvenile and curriculum materials
collections within academic libraries. This research details the process used to evaluate the collection and create a physical and bibliographic
identity that fits the needs of the library’s users.
Keywords Graphic novels, Academic libraries, Collection development, Cataloging, Academic library collection development,
Curriculum materials centers
Paper type Case study
Introduction
An academic library at a small, private liberalarts college in the
USA sought to develop an identity for and build a larger
collection of graphic novels within a curriculum materials
center. This article describes the steps taken to evaluate the
current collection, reassess the cataloging of graphic novels,
and create a new streamlinedway of acquiring, cataloging, and
processing the collection.This effort required the researchers to
parse through every item within the collection and determine
the appropriate location for each text, update bibliographic
records, and move the physical location. This reorganization
was important because it created a more user-friendly search
experience and resulted in a system for future acquisitions of
materials.
Literature review
Graphic novels arenon-serial monographic works that use both
images and texts to construct a narrative that is stronger when
both elements are used together than when used alone
(Goldsmith, 2005). These works vary in length, content,
audience, and genre. Because of this variability, graphicnovels
are best categorizedas a format rather than a genre (Goldsmith,
2005;O’Englishet al., 2006).
Within higher education in the USA, there is a history of
libraries collecting texts for children and young adults,
including graphic novels, for the educational, instructional
and personal needs of users. This visual format supports the
recreational reading interests of library users (Piper et al.,
2016). Instructors at American universities use graphic
novels as instructional texts across disciplines, such as
literature, business, science, and history courses (e.g.Clar k,
2013;Hosler and Boomer, 2011;Short et al.,2013;Syma
and Weiner, 2013). Institutions with academic programs in
teacher education and library and information science
incorporate graphic novels into their curricula (Cohn, 2022;
Downey, 2011;Shipman et al., 2013;Williams and
Peterson, 2011). To support these types of curricular uses in
education programs, academic libraries sometimes add
juvenile and young adult literature to collections within
curriculum materials centers. These spaces a re also known
as curriculum labs, curriculum libraries, curriculum rooms,
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
43/4 (2024) 124–128
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-01-2024-0002]
The authors want to thank the staff at Kaplan Family Library for offering
support and answering questions throughout this project. The authors
thank Denise A. Garofalo (Librarian for Systems and Catalog Services) for
her knowledge and contribution regarding bibliographic data and
cataloging. The authors also want to thank Vivian Milczarski (Director of
the Kaplan Family Library) for facilitating and supporting this internship
project.
Received 30 January 2024
Revised 6 May 2024
Accepted 10 May 2024
124
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