Comic Books in the Library

[Ava]

I introduced comic books (yes, actual comic books, not "graphic novels") into my elementary school library a couple of years ago and they seem to be a big hit, with the boys especally. Does anyone else circulate comic books? I'm trying to remember off hand what titles I have - Marvel 2-in-1, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four, Jughead, Looney Tunes, and Scooby Doo come to mind. I've also tried Powerpuff Girls and Amelia Rules for the girls although they never seemed to take root. Can anyone recommend any more titles? I have learned, when dealing with Marvel, to stay with their "All Ages" rating as opposed to the A rating since I circulate these as young as 2nd grade.

Here's a good site for anyone interested http://kidslovecomics.com/

[Sandra Carswell]

Ava, I ordered a comic book this year from our magazine vendor. I think it is spiderman or superman. I can't remember exactly now. I don't do the processing when they come in and I don't recall checking any out to students. I wonder if they even found them. I'm in a junior high with 6-8th grades. I do have some Archie comics, Amelia rules, Fantastic Four, etc all in hardback that circulate very well. It seems like quite a few boys that like to draw comics like to check them out as well.
btw, my grandaughter, age 2 1/2 is named Ava, a beautiful name.

Sandra

[Ava]

I put them out just like a magazine. Newest issue goes on display, older issues in the back issue magazine section. Never had a problem with the kids finding them!

It seems very strange to hear my name out in public. All my life the only other Ava I knew was the grandmother I was named after. Now I run into little girls named Ava everywhere.

[Sandra Carswell]

Ava, Yes, my comic goes on the magazine shelf as well. I also subscribe to Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat. They are VERY popular and get completely worn out. I'm looking into buying some type of magazine cover for the popular ones next year. Maybe they will hold up a little better, even if they are a little bit harder to carry around. A teacher told me yesterday, when I told her how many magazines were not returned at the end of the year, that probably many were thrown in the trash when they cleaned out lockers because teachers/students didn't know they were checked out from the library.

btw, I also have the Bone series by Jeff Smith. I buy it in paperback from the Scholastic Bookfairs but they fall apart all the time. I have also started ordering them from Bound to Stay Bound because they are so popular and will be for a long time.

[Ava]

Yeah, my older boys like Bone as well. Agree with you on binding. Even the hardback copies fall apart. I spend more time trying to glue the things back together. Will check out Bound to Stay Bound edition. And of course I have Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield, Mutts and Peanuts but those are collections rather than actual comic books. For the little guys (elementary school remember) I make sure I have every Spider-Man, Star Wars, Spongebob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, X-Men, and Scooby Doo easy reader that I can find. They just sit in a rack with the I Spy and Where's Waldo books. I call it my boy magnet table. You should see K-1 boys mob it during checkout.