That’s right, the library now has graphic novels for adults.  Why? you ask.  Because comics and graphic novels are not just for kids.  Seen a movie recently?  Chances are it was based on a comic or graphic novel, especially if it was a superhero movie.  Recent movies based on graphic novels include: Red, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Kiss A**, Iron Man, Watchmen, and X-Men.  And those are just some of the films released last year.  There are a slew of movies based on comics slated for release in the next two years.  So if you liked the movie or even if you didn’t but want to check out the source material the movie is based on, the library is the place to go.  And it’s not just movies.  At least three TV shows on air right now are based on comics:  Smallville, Walking Dead, and The Human Target.  Not to mention all the live action and animated series over the years based on comics.

Graphic novels are big right now.  Authors such as Stephen King, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson, Diana Gabaldon, Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, Jim Butcher, Stephanie Meyer, and Audrey Niffenegger have written graphic novels.  Like their all word counterparts, graphic novels encompass all different genres, including but not limited to literary, horror, humorous, fantasy, science fiction, historical, mystery, nonfiction and memoir.  Unlike traditional books, graphic novels also contain pictures or illustrations.  The point to a graphic novel is that the illustrations and the narrative work together to tell the story.  And the artwork is exactly that–art.  Pick up a few graphic novels and look at the pictures.  Some books are pieces of art in and of themselves.  Today, the choice is not just superheroes or manga.  There is something for everyone from the long time comic reader to those exploring the format for the first time.

So, after speaking with patrons and watching many adults browse the young adult graphic novel collection, we decided it was time for the adults to have a collection they could call their own.  The collection is located on the second floor, near the reference desk, on the shelves on the east side (nonfiction side) of the long main aisle that extends from the reference desk to the study rooms.  The new titles in this collection are on the first floor with the rest of the new books.  They’re presently shelved at the end of new fiction.  In both places the selection may be thin because many of the titles are checked out.  And that says it all.  Broaden your horizons. Try something new this year.  Try reading a graphic novel.  Even if you decide they are not for you, they are just one more choice of reading material the library supplies to meet the demands of our patrons.