Graphic Novels Collection Development Time

I say this every July, but it bares repeating....

July is the best month to work on your graphic novel collections because of Comic Con. But don’t wait until the end of the month when the Con happens to start. You need to start now because once the conference opens [July 21], the news, articles, and Eisner Award announcements will be coming fast and furious. If your overall graphic novel collection is a hot mess, this information will do you no good. Now is the time to work on this collection-- weed, replace, add new titles, etc...

Also, you need to be ready for the comic related questions that will start coming when Comic Con is happening because no matter where you live, the media giants make sure their stuff is in the mainstream news for the duration of the Con. This leads to more comic related requests and inquiries at the library every single July.

Here are a few things you can do over the next week and a half to get your graphic novel collection and yourself into pre-Comic Con shape:

• Assess the year that has been up to this point with this post on the best comics for the first half of the year from Panels.
• In general bookmark Panels for all of your graphic novel questions. They have the website and a podcast.
• Also No Flying, No Tights is a wonderful resource.
• Get ready for the second half of 2016 with this post from Library Journal on the Graphic Novels they are most excited about for the rest of 2016.
• Click here to read everything I have ever tagged Graphic Novels on the blog. This will include award winners, reviews, resources, and more, from the last 9 years.

Now use this information to assess your collection, arm yourself with the most current comic knowledge, and maybe even get a display or two up all before Comic Con dominates the entertainment world.

It is a lot easier if you spend a few hours now rather than being caught off guard come late next week. Plus, you can promote your graphic novel collections and show fans that you are in the know before the Con begins. Heck, a graphic novel display might even catch the eye some of those Pokemon Go people who haven’t been to the library in years [ever?] to check something out.