Adding Color to Our Shelves: Creating a Graphic Novel Collection at USC Lancaster

ABSTRACT Despite ongoing attempts at censorship, graphic novels and comics continue to grow in popularity and are increasingly adopted as course materials. With thoughtful planning, smaller academic libraries can strategically develop these collections in a way that supports curricula and pleasure reading. Attentive assessment, cataloging, and promotion of these materials can ensure that collections are accessible and beneficial to users from many backgrounds while ensuring that primary audience needs are met. In this article, academic librarians share their experiences one year after developing and promoting a graphic novels and comics collection at a rural, two-year campus library.