The Bullpen

[thefreakytiki]

My daughter and I hit the main branch of the Boston Public library just about every Saturday.  She gets about 3 or 4 "chapter books" (actual title for kid's books) and I get one or two trades.  We always do a Daddy/daughter lunch (at a fun place like Max Brenner's.  Look it up and you'll understand why...).

I love the library for filling in my TO READ Eisner nominee list every year.

Why not take advantage of it... It's free!



The Tiki

[bean6344]

Why not take advantage of it... It's free! You're paying for these books with your tax dollars.

Fixed.   

Bean

[thefreakytiki]

Fixed.   

Bean

Touché my good man. Touché. 


The Tiki

[SimonH]

I did some time at the Houston Public Library as a teen librarian, and I always tried to advocate for graphic novels and trades.  Couple of hints if you are looking for stuff:

Some libraries will stock trades uncatalogued in the teen area, which work in a similar way to the uncatalogued racks of paperbacks.  These uncatalogued book (at least at HPL) were not listed in the catalog if you accessed it with a public account, but will show up if you have a librarian's account (This stops reference librarians having to hunt down random unsorted paperbacks).  So if you don't find something in the catalog, ask a reference librarian to look for you.

Reference librarians can also help you navigate Interlibrary Loan systems.  Most libraries are plugged into at least a regional loan program that can get materials from outside the system. 

Non superhero and manga, adult, or perennial favorites are sometimes cataloged and in the main stacks (Clowes stuff, Maus, Persopolis  are examples I can remember).  Generally they are in 741.5 or thereabouts.  Collected editions of strips often get shelved here too.

Libraries will also stock single issues, but again these are uncatalogued, and generally don't show up in the database.  They are meant to be disposable "self-weeding" items that will circulate one or twice before being disposed.

Library purchases take circulation into account, so if you want to see certain titles or genres in your stacks, check out similar stuff.  I know HPL used to have a complete run of the Sandman GNs at most branches, but as the popularity of the series waned, volumes that had to be taken out of circulation were no longer replaced because the numbers weren't there.  In a time where libraries are feeling a budgetary pinch, it's important to let librarian know what you want to see, and show your support by using the services available.

[ThePatheticClub]

My library has TPBs.

[kingsynthithis]

The "city" I live in is one of two "twin cities" (Lewiston/Auburn) in Maine. Both of these libraries have OGNs and  TPBs! Best of all they let me check out books from both libraries. One of these libraries (Auburn) has a special section just for comics (even though it is just one shelf) and they both stock more in the teen section. The only weird thing about this is they stock "The Alcoholic" with the rest of Johnathon Ames' books (Lewiston). Which makes me wonder, why? Is it too inappropriate for teens? If it is to inappropriate, then why is Watchmen in the teen section?

[Lukeh]

Sydney libary has a sweet collection. Plus you can browse online and get them sent to any branch within two working days.

[Gordo]

All of my reading nowadays comes from the library. I have saved, literally thousands of dollars by using the SNAP interlibrary loaning system. LOVE IT!

[jacobi]

All of my reading nowadays comes from the library. I have saved, literally thousands of dollars by using the SNAP interlibrary loaning system. LOVE IT!

Have you found that when you switched over to being a library trade reader you had less of a desire to buy books? There was one time when I really wanted to buy tons of trades I loved to build a library of trades, but now the idea is the total opposite of what I want. I still love looking at other people's sanctum sanctorums -- I just don't want or need one anymore. All of the trades I own fit on 2 shelves, and it will probably take 5 years for me to fill up another one (if I ever do). 

[Gordo]

Have you found that when you switched over to being a library trade reader you had less of a desire to buy books? There was one time when I really wanted to buy tons of trades I loved to build a library of trades, but now the idea is the total opposite of what I want. I still love looking at other people's sanctum sanctorums -- I just don't want or need one anymore. All of the trades I own fit on 2 shelves, and it will probably take 5 years for me to fill up another one (if I ever do). 

Half and half. Reading the Deluxe HC versions of say, Invincible, Preacher, Fables, Walking Dead, have made me appreciate and enjoy the stories, but I've decided that I will fill my bookshelf only if I get a really good deal. Owning things is less of a priority these days and if I can stay in the game at a bar after or during a con, I'm happy.
That being said, I love a fully realized and rounded library in my house.

[Jonas]

My public library has a few trades. Mostly it seems by donation. As such it is a strange collection with no rhyme or reason, but I have used it a few times. I think mostly it is because my public library could honestly fit in most high school gyms easily its very small. They do not even have the trades carded in any real manner they just sort of write you out a receipt that you borrowed whatever. But they did have the Battle of Beta Ray Bill so to be honest they win my approval.

[Gordo]

I'd like to add that one of the main guys who orders books for the library is a comic fan himself. Helps to have an inside dude stocking the shelves.

[KW!!]

LA county's got a big system plus an inter-library loan system so I can go online and request trades (or anything else for that matter) from any branch in the system and have it shipped to the one right down the street from me, free of charge. And anytime I just walk in there cold to see what they've got in stock, I always walk away with something cool. Most recently borrowed a Transmet trade and the first 2 volumes of Pluto.

I know a couple of librarians here and they're both comic heads, one of them even got Brubaker to sign her branch's copy of Incognito, which could very well be the coolest federal offense of all time.

[Farrell]

I like how this thread is abbreviated in the "last thread posted in" area: "public library...ho"  Add an exclamation mark to that and it's like a literary cattle drive.

[Rebecca]

Sydney libary has a sweet collection. Plus you can browse online and get them sent to any branch within two working days.

Brisbane City Council library is the same. Large collection and it's where I get most my comics to read (if I like it enough, I'll buy it later). I've read Fables from there since I'm buying the deluxe HCs and would have to wait an eternity to find out what happened otherwise.

[Scotchlander]

pretty standard for uk libraries to have at least a small selection of trades and some city centre ones have a pretty large selection to choose from

[dreamscaper]

I live in Vancouver, Canada, and our library system is replete with many trades. A couple of years ago an acquaintance of mine told me that this was the way he was reading the majority of his comic material but i didnt really think about it or follow up on his comments. Soon after however, I happened to be in my local branch and realized that there was quite a lot on the shelves. From that moment on I have taken advantage of the interlibrary loan sysdtem thst we have here in the city to work my way through the James Robinson run of superman books, Fables, Red Robin, as well as Matt kindts very moving 3 Story; the Secret history of the giant man, which motivated me to hunt him down at ECCC this past March and buy a copy from him as well as buy some of his original art panels from the book! (something I likely would not have done if i had not seen the book at my library!)

Yay VPL! 

[zip a tone]

I have 2 or 3 libraries I frequent in my area, the east Bay Area, CA.  I have read many, many great things from them.  Also, since I usually go with my boys, I have come to find a lot of cool stuff in the children's section.  The collection of children's comics that Spiegelman put out a year or so ago, the Harvey collections from Dark Horse and a lot of John Stanley stuff.  Also, if you are into manga, there is no shortage at any public library I have been to lately. 

A great resource in these hard economic times for sure.