LI804A, Annotated Bibliography
Wendy Mitchell
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The Where Factor: Organization of Graphic Novels in Libraries
Wendy Mitchell
Emporia State University
Introduction
Graphic Novels have found their place among library patrons but have the found their place on
library shelves? The location and organization of graphic novel collections in not standardized
and may vary from library to library. Libraries that decided to add graphic novels to their
collection have an important decision to make about where and how to organize that collection.
This topic has been widely discussed by librarians as the genre increases in popularity and a
variety of books, websites, blogs, and articles have weighed in on the subject. This bibliography
provides a list of resources on the topic of organization of graphic novels in libraries and is a
useful tool for librarians making the important decision on where to place their graphic novel
collection. It focuses on the section(s) in the literature that pertain to the organization of the
collections in regard to cataloging and shelving graphic novels. All resources are written for
librarians and should be easily used by anyone dealing with this type of collection in a library
setting.
Bruggeman, Lora. (1997). Zap! Whoosh! Kerplow!: Build high-quality graphic novel
collections with impact. School Library Journal, 43(1), 22-27.
Lora Bruggeman is the former Literature and Audio Services librarian at the Downers Grove
Public Library in Illinois where she supervised the graphic novel collection. Bruggeman
includes a brief history of her libraries graphic novel collection, the relationship of graphic
novels and literacy, and the basics of graphic novel collection development. Under the heading
“Process and catalog the books” (pp. 26-27) Bruggeman discusses call numbers and shelf
organization. The Downers Grove Public Library opted to create a separate section for graphic
novels away from Dewey 741 and general fiction. For the integration into general fiction
approach see Gatley, Wallace, & Waye (2005). Bruggeman’s library then divides the collection
into fiction, science fiction, and non-fiction. In the first two categories like-characters are
grouped together in subsections as well as works by popular authors which is similar to Weiner
(2008). The non-fiction is organized by author. Very little of this article is dedicated to
organization but the author does present a valid organizational scheme that would be effective in
smaller graphic novel collections.
Dickinson, G. (2007). The question…where should I shelve graphic novels? Knowledge Quest.
35(5), 56-57.
Gail Dickinson is credited as an Associate Professor of School Librarianship at Old Dominion
University in Norfolk, Virginia. In this article Dickinson clearly defines the organization
questions that libraries face in regard to graphic novel collections. She discusses the choice
between shelving graphic novels in their own section versus shelving them by subject or author
in the general collection. Dickinson understands where each side is coming from and presents
both sides in an unbiased manner as opposed to Kan (n.d.). Dickinson describes how some
librarians want to keep graphic novels separate in order to spark reading interest and increase
collection circulation. She also gives the opposite view about how librarians hope that by
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shelving graphic novels in with the other books readers will become interested in traditional
formats. Dickinson also points out the difference between shelving all graphic novels in the
Dewey 741 number as opposed to by subject and author in the general collection. Dickinson
does share her own opinion that libraries are organized in a certain way and that graphic novels
are just another format that should be incorporated into the collection in the same manner as
traditional formats. Accompanying this article is a graphic organizer that allows the reader to
reason through the different options of graphic novel organization and come to their own
conclusion. A well thought out, useful, and diplomatic article.
Gatley, R., Wallace, C., & Waye, D. (2005). Boom: Graphic novel explosion @ your library.
Retrieved from the University of British Columbia’s School of Library, Archival, and
Information Studies website: http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr517/04-05wt2/projects/booom/print.html
The authors were Master’s students studying Subject Analysis at the University of British
Columbia at the time this report was created. This report includes the history of graphic novels,
their evolution in libraries, and a discussion on the pros and cons of using different subject
headings. The authors then address the issues of classification (pp. 5-6) focusing on the pros and
cons of organizing graphic novels by the Dewey Decimal System or Library of Congress System
versus interfiling the collection or separating the collection. A case study of the Vancouver
Public Library’s graphic novel collection is then presented. Librarians at the Vancouver Public
Library felt that users were not fully able to grasp the aboutness of a particular title when it was
shelved according to the Dewey 741 number. For other case studies see Bruggeman (1997) or
Weiner (2008). They reclassified their graphic novels and assimilated them into the general
collection only distinguishing them by the addition of the word “GRAPHIC” on the spine label.
Authors admit that this is only one successful example and that each individual library must
assess its collection and users individually. Avoids bias and presents relevant valuable
information and facts regarding collection organization.
Goldsmith, F. (2005). Can reader’s find your library’s graphic novels?: Classification and
descriptive cataloging. In Graphic novels now: Building, managing, and marketing a
dynamic collection (pp. 52-62).
Francisca Goldsmith is a Young Adult Librarian and has served on Young Adult Library Service
Association (YALSA) committees on graphic novels. Goldsmith’s chapter on classification and
descriptive cataloging of graphic novels begins with an explanation on why cataloging graphic
novels in important as opposed to having a non-cataloged, browsing collection. Goldsmith then
moves on to write about the use of Dewey classification in regard to graphic novels. She writes
about the pros and cons of using both the Dewey 741 number as well as interfiling non-fiction
graphic novels in with their respective subjects. Goldsmith also comments on the practice of
creating a separate collection for graphic novels. She spends a lot of time explaining the
controversies surround the different organization methods but does not really make known what
she thinks is the best method. Goldsmith points out the same need for standardized cataloging
that is pointed out in Tarulli (2010). Informative and unbiased but does not give support for
choosing an organization system.
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Kan, Kat. (n.d.). Cataloging Graphic Novels. Retrieved from http://www.diamondbookshelf.com
/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=20&s=181&ai=37812&ssd=
Kat Kan, a librarian since 1984 and Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) columnist on comics and
graphic novels, shares her thoughts on cataloging graphic novels on Diamond Comics’
Bookshelf website. Kan mentions that most libraries use the Dewey 741 number and that some
create their own “COMICS”, “GRAPHICS”, or “GRAPHIC NOVELS” call numbers. She also
mentions that some libraries shelve the graphic novels in with the general collection to try and
encourage browsing while others shelve graphic novels as their own separate collection. Kan
states from her own experience that graphic novels pulled from the general stacks circulate more
frequently. However, unlike Weiner (2008), Kan gives no statistical support for her claims of
increased circulation. Kan states her opinions and personal preferences in this article showing
clear bias towards creating a separate graphic novel collection and not categorizing them by
Dewey number. For an unbiased opinion piece see Dickinson (2007). Basically, she
recommends any other type of organization apart from using Dewey. Kan is obviously
experienced in this subject and offers advice that can help librarians but the advice is one sided.
Miller, S. (2005). Cataloging. In Developing and promoting graphic novel collections (pp. 4956). New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.
Steve Miller has been both a public and school librarian and is the creator of the popular email
discussion group Graphic Novels in Libraries (GNLIB-L). Miller begins his cataloging section
by listing questions that librarians need to ask themselves before deciding where to shelve
graphic novels. He then discusses the popular approaches to cataloging graphic novels. He
includes explanations of organizing graphic novels by Dewey 741 number, by integrating
graphic novels into the regular collection, and by separating them from the collection. Miller
gives through explanations of each design but he concludes each explanation with his opinion
that the best way of organizing a graphic novel collection is to create a separate collection for
graphic materials. For a similar approach see Bruggeman (1997). Miller suggests that “Graphic
Novel” be added to the spine. Miller also suggests using “Graphic Novel” stickers to further
identify titles. Very descriptive of various points of view but does put forth Miller’s opinion of
what the best solution is.
Mitnick, E. (2009, February 13). Graphic novels are haunting my dreams [Web log post].
Retrieved from http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/?p=713
Eva Mitnick is a regular contributor to the blog of the Association for Library Service to
Children (ALSC). Mitnick is a Senior Librarian in the office of Children’s Services at the Los
Angeles Public Library where she trains other Children’s Librarians. In this blog post Mitnick
comments on the rising popularity of graphic novels and states that cataloguing and shelving are
big concerns for libraries developing a graphic novel collection. Mitnick shares that at the Los
Angeles Public Library Children’s Collection they catalog non-fiction graphic novels under the
Dewey subject number and fiction graphic novels in the same way as the juvenile fiction and
easy readers in a similar manner to the Vancouver Public Library as discussed in Gatley, Wallace,
& Waye (2005). Mitnick’s library also adds a “GN” distinction on the spine label. Mitnick
recommends creating a separate graphic novel section but acknowledges that many librarians
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disagree with that approach. Interesting blog post but Mitnick seems to ask more questions than
she answers.
Tarulli, L. (2010). Cataloging and problems with Dewey: Creative collaboration and compromise.
In R. Weiner (Ed.), Graphic novels and comics in libraries and archives: Essays on
readers, research, history and cataloging (pp. 213-221). Jefferson, North Carolina:
McFarland & Company, Inc.
Laurel Tarulli is the Collections Access Librarian at Halifax Public Libraries and also blogs as
the Cataloging Librarian where she has written about cataloging graphic novels (2009, May 6).
Graphic novels: Cataloging issues [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://laureltarulli.wordpress.
com/2009/05/06/graphic-novels-cataloguing-issues/). In this chapter Tarulli addresses that fact
that most libraries struggle with how to catalog and organize their graphic novel collections. She
expresses a desire for standardized practices for cataloging graphic novels as does Goldsmith
(2005). She suggests that the implementation of Rules for Descriptive Access (RDA) may help
solve some current problems facing graphic novel catalogers. Tarulli includes a detailed
description on why catalogers decided to classify graphic novels in the Dewey 741 number. She
also affirms the fact that many librarians want to see graphic novels shelved away from the
general stacks as implemented in Bruggeman (1997). Tarulli praises the usefulness of systems
such as the one implemented in Weiner (2008) but the fact that Weiner is the editor of this book
must be pointed out. Tarulli confirms the idea of applying a “GN” label to call numbers. In
addition, she describes the practice of using “Graphic Novel” stickers to further identify graphic
titles. Informative and inclusive of many different approaches to graphic novel organization.
Weiner, R. G. (2008). Graphic novels in libraries: One libraries solution to the cataloging
problem. Texas Library Journal, 84(1), 8-16.
Robert Weiner is a Reference Librarian at the Mahon Library in Lubbock, Texas where he
reorganized the library’s graphic novel collection and collected data that showed improved usage
of the collection. Weiner included sections on the history of graphic novels, their
implementation in libraries, and cataloging. In the cataloging section (pp. 11-14) Weiner
describes the problems libraries face in organizing their graphic novel collections and shares his
solution to that problem. Weiner’s moved his library’s graphic novel collection from the Dewey
741 number to a separate collection further separating them by publisher and by character which
is similar to Bruggeman (1997). His system also incorporates non-graphic prose novels and nonfiction materials in with the graphic novel collection but excludes some Easy Reader materials.
The most useful aspect of this article is the included Shelf List and Alphabetical List (pp. 12)
which could be used as models for any library wanting to replicate Weiner’s system.
Unfortunately, Weiner is only able to report on the success of this organization scheme in one
library. See Bruggeman (1997) or Gatley, Wallace, & Waye (2005) for other case studies.
Overall, an informative look at an alternative organization model.