[LM_NET] HIT: Graphic Novel Cataloging (long)

[Cheryl Youse <cyouse_cgs@YAHOO.COM>]

Many thanks to all who contributed examples of the way
graphic novels are cataloged in their libraries.  It
appears that there are quite a few variations, though
concern about theft of the books is a common theme
(and one of the reasons behind my query).  I have
posted the answers below.

I plan to *catalog* the books properly but *shelve*
them in a separate location (for tracking purposes).
I like the GF suggestion for Graphic Format.  I hope
to add non-fiction/informational titles as well,
including biographies and shelve them together
initially.  When they become more common and less
likely to ‘walk on their own’, they will be easily
interfiled with the rest of the collection.  (And
thanks to Jody Newman and Teri Padua whose suggestions
I am combining.)

_____________________________________________________________________________


  Our graphic novel collection has been cataloged as
non-fiction using the call number GN  741.5 with the
author last name. This is how our district is
cataloging them.  We place all the graphic novels
together.  We haven't has problems with stealing as
far as we know.  We have marked each book by punching
holes in the front and back cover then covering them.
We felt that this would make the book least valuable
and easy to tell our books from personal one. When
students check out the graphic novels, we make a list
of the books the students checkout so if we have
problems getting them returned we know who has our
books.  This extra measure has helped us know what
students are not returning the books.
   Another problem with our graphic novels is they are
starting to fall apart after a short time (less 2
years).


I am LMS at an elementary school, and have been
acquiring graphic
novels, comic book anthologies, and etc. for a few
years.
I have already tried the "classic cataloging" approach
by placing them
intershelved by Dewey number, for example in the 740s,
with disappointing results.  They were hard for the
users to locate, many are smaller or larger in size
that standard books and/or soft cover, which means
that they tend to "disappear" (get pushed back behind
other books on the shelf) or they flop over. I tried
placing them in the Easy or Fiction sections
(depending on the reading level), but they were even
harder to locate, than via Dewey. Also, during these
separate phases of cataloging and re-cataloging these
graphic books, the collection has experienced unduly
large losses due to theft, with most titles never to
be seen again. So having gone through all these
attempts, I finally decided to do 2 things at one
time.  My 800 section is (except for 818 Jokes and
Riddles) grossly under circulated, so I decided to
re-catalog and re-locate these books to a simple 800
number, and put them at the very beginning of the
section. I introduced this new number and location for
these books, and then waited to see what happens.  I
like what I noted:
        1.  very little theft, I have a clear view of the
section;
        2.  books are easily located by students, with less
of my
intervention necessary;
        3.  browsing behaviors have become manifest;
        4.  there has been a measurable amount of increase in
circulation of
various adjacent
          800 section titles, especially poetry of all
sorts and
anthologies
of classic and/
          or current children's literature.


We have a graphic novel collection with the regular
call numbers, but
we put graphic novel in the subject heading, and put a
sticker with the
term graphic novel (from Demco) on them.  They are
then shelved in
their own special area.  The kids know just where to
go, and they love it.

We use the graphic novel term even for nonfiction
works like Pedro and
Me- anything that is in that form gets the sticker.


All of my graphic novels have GN as the first line,
then Fic New, or 940.4318 Spi or whatever. I did this
because right now, all of my graphic novels sit
together, but I can see a day in the future when they
might be interfiled, at which point we simply ignore
the GN from the first line, and the rest of the number
is correct.

We assign GN above the call number but place all of
the graphic novels
together on a shelf.

I put all of my graphic novels in the fiction section
of the library. I
have cleared an area at the beginning of the fiction
books. I give the
novels a GN designation, then F, then the creator or
authors first 3
letters of the last name. It save me time and the
students, too, when
they want to run in between classes to grab one to
check out.

Right now I've shelved them all together per teacher
request.  That's how they seem to get them most use.
But I like the idea of assigning them with GN.


I put almost all, with the exception of a couple
(which were fiction
books first) in GN 741.5.  I created the GN label so
kids would know
immediately it is a graphic novel.


I have assigned all my graphic novels the call number
GN then the
author's last name.  This helps me to file them
together as well as
helps students find them more easily.  I am wondering
what to do about
the non-fiction graphics I am about to order (the ones
from Capstone).
I don't know if they should go with their Dewey or
keep them in the
GNs.

We pulled them all and put them in a separate location
with the prefix GF for Graphic Format because we had
some non-fiction types also.

We use GN as the first line of the call number and
Graphic Novels as
the location code. Treat them like a fiction book
(only author letters)
in most cases - some have historical significance at
the secondary level and seem to need a Dewey number
after the GN. We shelve them as a
separate collection. We use the subject term Graphic
novels so we can do a subject search on the collection
if needed. I've had them in both
elementary and high school. Elementary students are
very hard on the
bindings, I think it takes them longer to read them
and they go in and out of the backpacks a lot. Our
high school collection is in very good
condition - students read them quickly and want more
so they return them as soon as they are finished. We
use a lot of cover out display for this collection -
makes browsing
easier.

I just catalog mine as if it is being shelved with the
regular books.  I put a colored dot sticker on the
spine so they are easily identified if they get stuck
in the regular stacks by accident.  I considered
giving them a special prefix but decided against it.
Basically I get mine through Follett already cataloged
and I would have had to go into each record and add in
the prefix, which didn't thrill me.  So, I decided on
the sticker instead.  I put them all on a special
display rack near the door.   At the end of the year I
can shelve them in the regular stacks and then pull
them out again next year.

Mine are all cataloged in 741.5.  I like having them
all together
because students want to go right to them without
roaming the shelves.
I am purchasing some of the new graphic biographies.
I will probably
put them in the biography section.

I use GN and then for most of them F (for fiction) --
these are the
ones that are usually catalogued 741.5 (?).  For the
ones that are really non-fiction, e.g., biographies or
histories, I put GN B or GN 940.


I have them cataloged as 741.5 + first 3 letters of
author's last name.  Because I have so many, it
essentially creates a separate section.


We've talked about this before - there is the "right"
way to do
cataloging. But your way must be the way the suits you
and your patrons. For example, I am in a school of
first, second and third graders. My aide and I decided
we would have less angst if we put ALL the holiday
books together on one shelf. No more hunting for
Valentine's stories. Is it correct?  Nope. But if it
helps my kids and teachers find what they want, I am
willing to do it.


I use GN and shelve them near my desk so I know who is
looking at them.

I assign graphic novels to the 741.5 call number that
puts them with
The comic books.  By coincidence (not entirely!), that
also puts them at the end of a stack that is very
close to my desk, providing me with an excellent
opportunity to keep a close eye on them... if they
were ever checked in.

we use GN to designate the separate section of graphic
novels.

We catalog the "how to draw comic" books in 741.5
So a Batman graphic novel, where the entire story is
told, is in GN F
BAT while a book on how to draw in the Batman style
would be in 741.5.

I use "GN".  On ones that are more mature and we don't
want younger
students reading we but "GN JR" and a colored dot we
use to signify
that only certain grade levels can check those one
out.  We put them on a shelf by themselves that is
easily seen from the checkout desk.


We place a sticker on the spine that says "graphic" to
aid shelving.   I believe my partner bought them from
Demco.






=====
Cheryl Youse, MLS
Media Specialist
Hatherly Elementary School
35201 Davison
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
586-825-2880
cyouse_cgs@yahoo.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------