Disclaimer: I wrote this whole thing before realizing that Jimski wrote a similar piece back in 2009, but I think they’re different enough to both be worth reading.
Today is the winter solstice, a time of year when short days make us all depressed so we give each other gifts to provide hope in the darkness. But what if that one book you really wanted wasn’t under the yule log? And after spending all your money on gifts for others you now find yourself lacking funds to purchase it for yourself. This is a dire situation, to be sure, but there is an answer: the public library!
"Spider-man? Just down the hall on your right, can't miss it."
That’s right, that run-down building you normally think of as a haven for the homeless actually contains books, and loads of them. Some of those books might even be comics! I realize that the utility of this post for varies dramatically based on geographic location, but odds are there is some sort of literary depository in your vicinity. If you’re not sure, I’ve found the phrase “Donde esta la biblioteca?” to be quite useful. There’s also this nice website to help you find your closest library location.
Many libraries even allow you to search their collections online. On a whim I searched my own local Nashville Public Library for “Watchmen” and found not only the original graphic novel, but the movie, the soundtrack for the movie, the Watching the Watchmen companion book, and a book called Watchmen and Philosophy: A Rorschach Test. Granted this was a library in a larger city and a very popular book, but it took all of 30 seconds for me to find the library website, search, and get results. It’s like Amazon but instead of paying money to wait for the item to arrive at your home, you just hop in your car/bike/bus/shoes and go get it yourself FOR FREE!
And free is the craziest part of this whole scheme Benny Franklin set up to piss off the British for taxing our tea, or something like that. Everything at the library is free (assuming you abide by due dates), you just walk in, grab an armful of goodies, plop down a card, and you’re on your way. A lot of places even allow you to renew online, which I can personally attest is a lifesaver.
Also discovered fire using a kite during a hurricane. FACT.
Free may be the craziest part of the scheme but it’s far from the coolest. Here’s what happens to me whenever I go down to the library (this scenario applies to any book, not just comics). I first look up the reference number for the book I know I want, then I saunter, yes saunter, over to the correct section and start browsing. I’ve never walked away with less than 3 or 4 extra books on the topic just by giving myself time to browse. This is also a strong argument for bookstores over online shopping, but bookstores aren’t often as rigorous in their shelving as libraries, and you often have to pay for the product which makes you less likely to grad other things on a lark.
However, there is a possibility that the library doesn’t have the exact comic you were looking for. If so, they may have a request system. Mine does and I usually get the book I’m asking for. But that may not be possible because library budgets are limited and comics demand possibly minimal. But those are just two of many reasons a library might have shied away from a robust comics collection. This is where you can be a Franklin-esque ambassador to the masses. If you find your library has a collection, but maybe it’s inappropriately shelved or whatever; go up and talk to a librarian. The people that work at the library I frequent (the science one in the base of my building) are awesome, intelligent, and engaged folks who actively want to make their facility as outstanding as possible. So if you’re the kind of person to help your local community, talk to the librarians about their comics collection. Don’t be creepy, but let them know that you’re a comics fan and that if they needed someone to help them tell if a book is all-ages or young adult you’d be happy to help distinguish. You never know how much of their hesitance is based solely around not having a knowledgeable person to help wade through the immensity of available titles. YOU COULD SINGLE-HANDEDLY SAVE THE TOWN LIBRARY! But seriously, don’t be creepy; librarians have to deal with that enough.
Now if you wanted to go the extra mile, you could see if the library accepts donations. I probably won’t read my Starman trade paperbacks now that I have several omnibuses, so why not make those available to the masses? How cool would it be to go back a few months after donating and find them checked out and know that someone is enjoying some great comics because you gave away something you didn’t even need?
There’s one last element about libraries that I think is worth mentioning. In every discussion on this site about comics piracy there are many of the same tire excuses trotted out: I can’t afford weekly books, it’s only making a copy so it’s not really stealing, would it be stealing if I lent books to a friend, etc. In my opinion, these excuses fall even flatter in the face of a well-stocked library. It’s free, legal, and presumably the book was paid for at some point in its history. It could not be simpler. Even if you’re scoffing while reading this ask yourself when you last browsed the libraries comics section? Or even looked for a book in their catalog online? Or even thought about it as a possibility before heading to the torrents? Ok, I’m off my soapbox now. (Soapboxes also invented by Ben Franklin, he just never knew when to quit.)
So that’s my ode to the library. I really do think there one of the most worthwhile establishments that nobody seems to use. So if this column had any affect at all go out there and change the trend, support your local community and offer to help if need be. It’s what the holidays are all about, right?
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Ryan Haupt wanted to sleep in, but if he had he’d have missed his deadline and most of the day. Stupid solstice. Check out his podcast Science… sort offor more winter madness
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I’m in NYC and our library system is beyond fantastic. Right now I have Northlanders Vol. 2, Tom Strong Vol. 2, Zot!, Postcards, and Matt Kindt’s Revolver on loan from the library (and Murakami’s 1Q84!!!, but that’s not comics). I’m catching up on classics and usually don’t have to blind buy anymore because of the NYPL (I’m still hoping they’ll get Duncan the Wonder Dog soon). You can hold books online and get notified when they arrive at your local library. If you’re in NYC and not taking advantage of the library, make it your New Year’s Resolution to do so.
Loved that library when I lived there.
I think the library is an awesome resource. I got a library card just to read the legendary graphic novels. I ended discovering books I never thought to read. I read All-Star Superman, The Long Halloween, Batman Year One but the best was Y: The Last Man. A great aspect is being able to find the book at different locations and have them transferred to the nearest one. It is also a great way to start reading other genres of literature.
Yeah the hold and transfer system is pretty great.
Another thing to please, please, please consider if you use a public library. Treat the books as if they were your own. There is nothing more disheartening than getting a book from there and seeing pages or specific pictures torn/cut out, or finding one that is so filthy, covered in nasty *things*, that you just can’t enjoy the book. As much as i love the public library branch that is 3 blocks from my work, many of the things in the art/comics section are complete un-readable….they are just utterly trashed and filthier than a truck stop bathroom. I’ve mentioned it to librarians….getting replacements is tough. So once you trash it, you ruin it for your entire community.
Yes.
🙂
I have to grin at this because there is someone in our system who likes reading Marvel HCs who bends over and creases the corner of the page to mark their place, IN BRAND NEW MARVEL HARDCOVERS!!! Who does that?!? They bend the page over and crease it, folding a brand new page of lovely art on stiff paper, before anybody else gets to read the book.
Not only that, they’ve now taken to folding over the entire upper portion of the page, not just the corner. So, not just a 2″ X 2″ corner, which is bad enough, now they fold over (AND CREASE!) a 7″ X 7″ “corner” of the page. To mark their place in a 90-page comic book! That they borrowed from a place with free bookmarks laying everywhere. And, if they requested the book from the library, it came with a receipt inside that they could’ve used as a bookmark, but instead they decided to ruin a 20-dollar book in mint condition. It’s insane.
To compound the infraction, someone else has taken to ripping these creased corners out of the books, and also taking out entire pages whenever the fancy strikes them. From otherwise lovely, expensive-to-replace, publicly-owned HCs.
Ah… people.
:-\
Absolutely. Nothing spoils the reading experience like poor care or vandalism from the last person who read the book. I remember reading Mariko and Jillian Tamaki’s Skim in a library copy, and someone had written moronic footnotes in it in pen. Gross.
I read all of Preacher, Ex Machina, and Sandman from my local library. It’s a wonderful resource.
Haven’t been to the library since I was a kid. Don’t even wanna think about how it might look now….
i love the library. i live in a huge city, so there’s a few about. i just recently found out that libraries have comics. good thing to know for a guy like me.
im a little confused as to how one might act creepy toward a libraian. groping them? starring at them? screeming vulgar comments(when i should be whispering them?) of course i wouldnt do those things. there must be an epidemic of creepiness out east, it seems like a very important issue for this site. i live out west and most of the people i encounter are pretty chill.
all things considered, a good and informative article.
salud
<3 I'm starting to wonder if the there was some stalker incident we aren't hearing about, haha.
There is a library 3 blocks from my house, I LOVED that place as a kid but haven't stepped foot in it in probably 15 years.
8)
If you haven’t been recently, you should check it out.
Most libraries got hip in the last decade or so, and now they have a lot more content besides books.
I get comics, GNs, independent & creator-owned stuff, books about comics (writing, drawing, inking, coloring, lettering, production, artists, bios, histories), movies, TV shows, anime, cartoons, DC WP OVAs and more.
Half my media input every year comes from the public library, and very little of it is novels or non-fiction books now.
Maybe 10%. The rest is what used to be considered “frivolous”.
😀
How to be creepy to a librarian (based on things that have happened to me):
Stand next to my desk and stare at me. If I ask if you need help, say no, and continue to stare.
Ask way too personal questions, such as if I would sleep with specific co-workers.
While looking for your library card, remove personal sanitary items or underclothes from your bag.
Make sure those underclothes are visibly used.
Follow me around as I help other customers, after I’ve helped you.
In St. Louis we have a plethora of comics, sometimes I find things I never knew existed and get hooked and end up buying them like American Vampire, Killing Shakespeare and the Umbrella Academy. Its a great service/benefit to get new readers introduced into comics (as long as they know it is there for them) and even better for those who read comics and want to try something out before they commit into buying.
Absolutely. Our library stocks a ton of independent and creator-owned stuff, and the branches have ‘zine section right in with the graphic fiction. They take it seriously and treat the medium with the respect it deserves.
I’ve read a ton of stuff I’d couldn’t have afforded to check out otherwise.
Haven’t even read the article yet (about to!) but I agree, I’ve borrowed hundreds of brilliant books (and plenty that weren’t, too) from my local library in the past 2 years, it’s pretty awesome.
What I don’t get is how much good taste they seem to have, someone involved with the library knows their shit.
Ditto. I wonder if they use a “what to buy” list, or research reviews from sources like Kirkus Review, etc.
Also, in my town, I could believe it was somebody really hip that was doing it.
Their science fiction section is really well-done, and my wife tells me that they have a great mystery selection, too.
Shout out to PDX and multcolib.
i came across the comic book section at my university library the other day and it was an absolute revelation! they had a ton of books; whedon’s astonishing x-men run, gaiman’s sandman, the incal trades that came out a few years ago and that 75 years of dc tombstone! not sure how this discovery will affect my studies?
I was just having this conversation with a friend of mine yesterday. For some reason the idea that our library in my small city would have comics didn’t even cross my mind, but they do and quite a few of them as well. I’ll be renewing my long lost library card in the new year, and my wallet will definitely thank me for it.
lol – I felt the same too.
Shhh…. 😉
I’m there every week. Usually twice.
If they don’t have it, you can ask them to order a copy.
You can also ask them to get you a copy from another library (unless it was published this year).
Something government does right.
Our library has an awesome, almost overwhelming collection.
Whoever does their buying is pretty hip. Or uses the right lists of what to buy.
My local also lets you check out some books on Kindle and other digital formats…no comics yet, but worth checking out
Libraries are indeed fantastic, and I count myself lucky that Toronto’s library system is AMAZING when it comes to comics. I’ve caught up on the big Vertigo epics through the Merril Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy reading room, and during TCAF the libraries sometimes have events with creators.
My wife works at a library and I’ll visit her while she’s working if I have a day off. Whenever I leave I have a HUGE stack of trades to look through. Definitely stop by at your local library whenever you get the chance, they probably have tons of stuff or can order tons of stuff.
I’ve discovered some great stuff through the public library. Daniel Clowes’, Ultimate Spiderman….got me hooked on those books and creators. Especially with USM…no way i would have tried to buy all of those to catch up. Just too daunting.
The library? In a word: Awesome. My library visits started years ago when I decided to stop buying paperbacks. Half of them sucked, so why was I spending all that money?
So as with regular books, I’ve checked out dozens of comic tpbs and hcs. Many are great. Some aren’t, not to my liking anyway, so I can honestly say “Thank the Lord I didn’t buy THAT in the store!” The library also came in handy – for comic trades AND standard book releases – during a couple of my “lean salary” years.
Love the library. Make it your next stop.
Love the Library been re-reading alot of great stuff from V for Vendetta to Sandman vol 1-11 and I recently got to read Astro City vol 1 and 2 which have been a blast. My son has been reading all the Scott Pilgrim books vol 1-6 and he love’s them. Also I got my hands on the WOLVERINE omnibus vol 1 which of course reprints all the great stories of wolverine when I was a kid….Bring Patch back.
plus all THE GOON TRADES and GHOST WORLD which I really enjoyed
I live in a suburb of Montgomery Alabama, with a small library, but even we have some graphic novels and trades. At least, so I’m told. I plan to make use of them at some point. The director is a comic fan, or, again, so I’m told, so there should be some stuff there I haven’t read.
I am actually 2 semesters away from having my masters degree in library and iformation science and yes you have to have a masters degree to be a librarian.
That Is so sad
Thanks, Ryan! This is a huge lovefest for libraries!
As a librarian, I can tell you that there are some libraries that don’t know what to order when it comes to comics. Since I’m an avid fan, our branch is pretty solid, but comics still hold a stigma in some areas. If you think your library doesn’t have a great collection, you can offer assistance in the form of recommendations (Eisners, Must Haves, Core Titles, etc.) or try and suggest partnering up with your LCBS (that way two organizations win!).
Stuff like FCBD? Easy to recommend to a librarian, the comic shop will hook you up with all the free comics you want, then you give them out! It’s awesome! And librarians love free.
If you haven’t stopped in your library for a bit, give it a try. And if yours is small, it’s usually just a button click away to have items sent to your location (Seriously. Our library just has an ‘add to cart’ feature).
As an American (I can’t speak for Canada) you should be able to get a huge variety of titles (comic titles too) with ease. And for free. It’s kinda our schtick.
I’m at my library every week (not for comics, though- slim pickins’), and I’ve always wondered- do libraries pay extra for books? How do writers and publishers get paid? Do writers secretly hate libraries because people are reading their books for free instead of buying them?
Actually, we usually pay a little less.
If you’re in Queens, come to the library! There are several of us with extensive knowledge of comics and the budgets to use them, though the city is cutting our budget again. In fact, come in more (all you need is proof of address, like a bill with your address on it, and a photo id) and take out old stuff. We even have ebooks now, that you can dl from our website. I personally just bought 500 bucks worth of graphic novels for our collection. Also, moving? Need to get rid of old books? I’LL TAKE THEM! If you bring in graphic novels to our branches, or anything else in good condition that we think people might take out, we will add them to the collection, and give you a receipt for tax purposes.
What I’m trying to say is, support your local library, and we will support you.
When I was a kid the idea of a Library having comics would have seemed far-fetched, now I’m surpised to find even a small branch library that doesn’t have at least a small Graphic Novel/Manga section.
The Library, where I currently work, has several hundred TPB collections (mostly DC & Marvel), graphic novels and manga series. We’ve got everything from Superman to Sin City, Bone to R. Crumb’s ‘Book of Genesis’. This is just here at the Main Library, but our two smaller branches have their own collections in the Teen Zones. Don’t even get me started on the anime!
I feel kinda bad about this subject, because I’ve read TONS of books from the library. It’s a totally reasonable way to catch up on reading. I’m just sad I don’t have enough money to actually buy the books. 🙁