Nebraska School Librarians Association
  • Home
  • About NSLA
    • Board
    • Committees
    • Membership
    • Elections
    • Board Meeting Minutes >
      • 2022-2023 Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2021-2022 Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2020-2021 Board Meeting Minutes
    • Contact Us
  • Advocacy
    • Legislation >
      • Statements Regarding Bills
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Reconsiderations
    • In the Media >
      • Media Requests and Responses
  • Awards and Scholarships
    • Awards
    • Award Recipients
    • Scholarships
    • Scholarship Recipients
  • NSLA Blog
    • Library Spotlights
  • Professional Learning
    • Top Resources
    • AASL Resources
    • NSLA Resources
    • Future Ready
    • State Resources

Let's Get Graphic!

10/22/2020

 
“Graphic novels’ popularity with young people has certainly earned them a definite place in school libraries” (Mardis, 2016, p. 105).  I have discovered this popularity in my new role as school librarian the past two school years.  As a past classroom teacher, my students would bring back graphic novels on checkout day and I have to say I wasn’t fond of them.  But now in the library I see students read with enthusiasm and thrive on the visual information.  They are the first books students ask for and the shelves are continually empty!  The population of the graphic novels makes book selection an easy task because I now know which books the students are reading.
 
According to Mardis (2016), “the modern types of graphic novels began in the 1970s, but in recent years they have become extremely popular and many librarians include them in their collections” (p. 106).  Some advantages of including graphic novels in your collection are:  visual learner connections, leading to exploring other kinds of literature, attracting boys and reluctant readers, useful for ESL or below level students and for attracting young people to the library.  I notice all of these advantages as graphic novels are used in my library.  I strongly feel that the books are magnets for pleasure reading and are critical in the development of literacy in our second language learners.
Picture
 
Adding graphic novels to a library collection also has some disadvantages.  “The contents of some graphic novels are not appropriate for young people” (Mardis, 2016, p. 106).   This is a concept I struggle with when considering what graphic novels to add to my collection because I am at a grade level campus that hosts only second and third graders.  I have some students who like the graphic novel format and have a higher reading level than a second or third grader.  Therefore, the content may be too advanced for my younger student.  I experienced this when receiving a set of Babysitters Club graphic novels and one was titled “Boy Crazy Stacy”.  After reading it, I decided the contents were not appropriate for the age of a second or third grade student and I chose not to put it on the shelf.
 
So let’s continue this love of reading and let the graphic novel collection continue to be the ones with the tattered covers and the longest wait list!  All students will be able to build their reading confidence and there will continue to be a surplus of options for readers of all ages.
 
Mardis, M. (2016). The collection program in schools: Concepts and practices (6th ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. 
 
 
Jamie Gruntorad
School Librarian
Sandoz Elementary School
Lexington, NE

Comments are closed.

    Author

    This blog is a joint effort by members of the NSLA Executive Board. We hope to provide relevant information, tips and tools to help you in your journey.

    Archives

    March 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Categories

    All
    Board Contributed
    Budget
    Challenges
    Conferences
    Decor
    Displays
    Diversity
    Elementary Library
    Equity
    High School Library
    Makerspaces
    Member Contributed
    Middle School Library
    Out Of The Library
    Professional Development
    Remote Learning
    Research
    Scholarships
    Social Media
    Technology Integration

    RSS Feed

Updated 1/2023
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About NSLA
    • Board
    • Committees
    • Membership
    • Elections
    • Board Meeting Minutes >
      • 2022-2023 Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2021-2022 Board Meeting Minutes
      • 2020-2021 Board Meeting Minutes
    • Contact Us
  • Advocacy
    • Legislation >
      • Statements Regarding Bills
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Reconsiderations
    • In the Media >
      • Media Requests and Responses
  • Awards and Scholarships
    • Awards
    • Award Recipients
    • Scholarships
    • Scholarship Recipients
  • NSLA Blog
    • Library Spotlights
  • Professional Learning
    • Top Resources
    • AASL Resources
    • NSLA Resources
    • Future Ready
    • State Resources