THE COMICS STACKS

Hey folks!

Welcome to your new home.

This blog on Graphic Novels in Libraries is written by me, Dave Burbank. I’ve been a public servant here at the City of Takoma Park since the last century, working at the Takoma Park MD Library as a Staff assistant, Graphic Novel buyer, youth specialist, and designated shushman to the afterschool rowdies. As the curator of our graphic novel collection, I’m most gratified that a search of our catalog turns up more than 2200 titles with the 'graphic novels' subject tracing.

In various other alter egos I teach classes in interactive storytelling (role-playing games) illustration (comics and cartooning) and have been known to pick up the pen myself as artist, author, illustrator and creator of the Library’s popular summer reading program.

With my colleague– children’s librarian and book reviewer Karen MacPherson– I’ve presented our talking slideshow and conversation on the History, Uses and Importance of Comics, from places as varied as the St Albans school for boys, to Montgomery County Public Schools Library and Media Specialists, to the University of Maryland College of Information Sciences.

A Fine Arts degree from the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts drama program qualifies me to read aloud in funny voices when we present our monthly Comics Jam after-school program with the kiddies.

I was told once by a friend and professional educator that teachers are most comfortable teaching pupils who are the age at which the teacher stopped their emotional development. Given that I’ve been teaching a 2-hour class for 30-or-so ten-year old boys for the past 15+ years, I think I’m well credentialed to talk about things like comics and the cultural importance of superheros. Or why they’re still cool even though they’re kinda corny.

Information on here may have appeared on the other iteration of this site:

http://comixtakoma.wordpress.com/

You can still find good information there too.