Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/697149
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 JUNE 2016 39 Comics Librarian: Origins "At one point, I was looking at the large comic book collection I had amassed over the years, I realised that I only read the material once and then, I leave it to gather dust on the shelf. Being a librarian by profes- sion I thought to myself, wouldn't it be more beneficial if others could also read my collection? So in 2013 I started to look for comics at the public library and checking if comic donations were accepted. I discov- ered that there were none. I made some research on the matter only to find out that in other countries, graphic novels and comics are the most borrowed material from public libraries. "But before I could approach the library and ask them to buy comics for their collection, it dawned on me that unless a proper section is cre- ated, this material would be lost and forgotten. So first, I needed to create a demand for comics and graphic novels at the public library, which would then lead library patrons to ask for the material. This would also be used to promote the Junior's Li- brary collection and encourage more people to read. However, I realized I could not tackle this alone – I need- ed help from others. I surrounded myself with a number of other fellow comic book fans and together, we created the NGO known as Graphic Novels Library Malta (GNLM)." Education through pop culture… but not just "Our aim is to use pop culture for educational purposes. We started organizing events and discussions about various topics, such as Bat- man and the philosophy/psychol- ogy of the character and his villains, the motive behind the story of V for Vendetta, how comics can be used in the classrooms and help educate children, creating comics work- shops, and so on. The NGO, thanks to the Centre for Literacy and the National Curriculum Centre, has given a number of presentations to teachers, students and learning sup- port assistants on the use of comics as a learning aid. "GNLM also participates in events organised by other entities such as secondary schools mini comic cons, which are organised by enthusias- tic teachers within their school. We then approached the Public Library and asked them to create a section of graphic novels for their junior's collection. Cheryl Falzon, the Na- tional Librarian, decided to give it a try and in 2014 a number of comics were bought for the library. We are currently still working to expand this section and at the same time promote the organisation locally to guide and help people use comics for various purposes: because com- ics are not just for children. Some- thing that comics do, whether you are reading it at one's own leisure or for academic purposes is that they teach literacies indirectly, and ex- pose readers to different storytelling techniques. When reading a comics book you are exposed to different understandings, learning styles and behaviors. One can focus on the text first and then look at the images or vice versa. When looking at a panel one is also looking at scene compo- sition, the transition between one panel and another – the il- lusion of passing time. Graphic novel advocacy "Starting from April 2016, on every Saturday at the Public Library, comic sessions were organised with the aim to promote comic book reading. These sessions focused on different stories and characters and showed the versatility of the medium by using dif- ferent aspects of comics to teach various top- ics. In these sessions, guest speakers were invited to share their work and opinion on the genre. There was a huge response during these sessions, which prompted us to help the Public Library to buy more comics through the crowd funding campaign on w w w . z a a r . c o m . m t , which is still in pro- gress." How to help "People interested to help create the Graphic Novels Library can do- nate to the crowd-fund- ing campaign (http:// www.zaar.com.mt/pro- jects/comics-for-the- public-library-phase-1/) and support GNLM on Facebook. People can also donate any comics or graphic novels they want to GNLM so that we can in- clude them with the collection at the Public Library. As an NGO, we are always on the lookout for people who wish to join us, either by providing support through vol- unteering in our activities or help- ing us organize different events or activities. For further information, they can send us an email at gnl- malta@gmail.com or contact us on Facebook on our page Graphic Nov- els Library Malta. Alternatively, they can also contact me personally at my workplace the University of Malta Library." This Week JOIN US ON FRIDAY 1ST JULY 4PM - 8PM & SATURDAY 2ND JULY 9AM - 5PM MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE, VALLETTA Call 99914356 to book your appointment with the guidance team or attend one of the talks edu.gov.mt/ichoose The funnybook revolution Hoping to add some life and relevance to our public libraries, Ryan Scicluna tells TEODOR RELJIC why he's started a crowdfunding campaign to help create Malta's first Graphic Novel Library Ryan Scicluna