Tag Archives: digital content

GTA Technology Topics, Tips and Tricks: Comics in the Library, E-Comics

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Today’s post is focused on comics. Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about comics or graphic novels so please forgive me for begin a total noob. I came across a Marvel announcement that I thought would be of interest to some of you SLISters that precipitated writing a GTA email on this topic.

The recent announcement by Marvel mentioned that the company will be including a code for downloading the *free* digital copy within every top-selling physical comic book purchased (those priced at $3.99).  Here is an article by Fast Company’s expert blogger Rob Salkowitz, questioning whether Marvel’s Digital Comic Book Shift “Will Fly” published March 12, 2012.  Note that there have been previous announcements by other comic book companies (such as DC Comics) previously regarding shifting to digital, so the announcement by Marvel is not that unique…excepting codes for downloading the *free* digital versions. Interesting times.

So, I was thinking, what are the reasons that libraries do not collect comic books?  Pricing and acquisition, difficult to catalog, collection development and management concerns, theft concerns. Do comics offer no learning or educational opportunities? Others reasons?? Some commentary on this very issue: Egads! Comics! In the Library!

Maybe with the announcement by Marvel, and the development of e-comic databases, more libraries will explore offering e-comic collections to their users (as an extension to currently offered graphic novel collections). Then again, I could see libraries getting out of offering any e-content at all to patrons due to pricing, licensing and availability issues, etc.

Here is a link from the University of Florida listing US university libraries with physical comic book holdings.

Library of Congress: Comic Books

British Comics Collection

If you are interested in graphic novels/comics in libraries I came across this 2010 resource, which is a holding of the University of Alberta RHSS Library. Graphic novels and comics in libraries and archives: essays on readers, research, history and cataloging by Robert Weiner.

Ok, I think I have just proposed a great research project for one of you!

GTA Technology Topics, Tips & Tricks: Tools to Help Support Learning & Organization

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Here are some great tools to think about using to help you learn and organize! There is of course the Google Apps suite but the recommendations posted below are out of the box type of tools!
Quizlets Flashcards help you study for final exams, languages, vocabulary, etc. and they can be shared. Web-based. (Free)
Index Card for Apple iPad lets you write index cards. Useful for those non-linear thinkers! ($4.99)
inClass for Apple iPad and iPhone is basically a digital planner, allowing you to store multimedia notes and organize your schedule (free)
Evernote for PC and Mac OS X. Amazing tool where you can tag notes and save web clips, text documents, pdfs, etc. Can be used in every aspect of your life and I think its a great tool for saving and organizing recipes. Their tagline is “Remember Everything” and there is a browser plug-in. Syncs across devices. (free)
iProcrastinate for Mac OS X and iPhone. Sync calendars, tasks and to do lists. You can break down tasks into components. (free)
bubbl.us is a brainstorming tool. Web-based. (free)
Diigo lets you bookmark, highlight and sticky note (annotate web) pages. Web-based and all platforms. (try for free = limited features)