The field of comics librarianship is growing and evolving and that’s what we want to explore in a few special episodes, talking in-depth with comics librarians. 

ALIA Graphic was created as a group five years ago. And right from the start we established contact with the American Library Association’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable. A group that’s been around for longer than us and a group that has achieved a lot since its creation. So we're absolutely delighted to have Amie Wright with us, who was the first president, or first Prime Minister, of the graphic novels and comics roundtable. 

04:57 Amie talks about her PhD, researching comics history and censorship, the stigma around comics and her work teaching of comics and history. 

12:47 Comics librarianship before the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable.

25:38 Every library needs a graphic novels champion because comics are important and comics librarianship is gets at the core of a good library service, serving the whole community and their needs. 

28:18 Amie talks about how the library education days at Toronto, San Diego and New York helped make the case to the American Library Association for the creations of the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable.

 34:33 Amie talks about what the original goals for the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable were when the group was created.

38:00 Iurgi talks about what the goals were when ALIA Graphic was created. To create resources for librarians, the monthly roundups, blog, podcast, creator chats and webinars. The Perth Comic Arts Festival is discussed as a vibrant festival dedicated to comics that has a partnership with the State Library of WA.

41:55 Amie talks about how and why the Toronto Comic Arts Festival is bringing back library education day this year in partnership with Graphic Medicine International Collective, the Graphic Novels and Comics and Roundtable and the Ontario Library Service.

44:43 How comics librarianship has developed since the creation of the GNCRT. 

53:58 Amie talks about the greatest achievements and challenges in comics librarianship.  

01:01:33 What can we do to continue to advocate for and promote comics in libraries.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.