Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2020
Abstract
A survey on collection development for graphic novels was sent to 632 collection development librarians and also placed on the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services listserv. Once 200 responses had been received analysis of results began. Findings indicate that while all libraries reported possessing at least some graphic novels and most reported having what they would call a “graphic novel collection,” the medium is still quite uncommon when compared to existing library collections, comprising less than 1% of all books in academic libraries. Further, while it was found that most libraries are currently collecting graphic novels, collection development policies for graphic novels are not the norm. Survey respondents were also asked to detail the current perceptions of graphic novels among the librarians in their institutions. Overall, the results detail an area of collection development in a state of change as graphic novels become more common in both university curricula and in academic library collections.