Cataloging Graphic Novels

Cataloging

Most libraries follow the Dewey Decimal system as established by the Library of Congress, which puts graphic novels in the 741.5 call number area. Some libraries have established a COMICS GRAPHICS or GRAPHIC NOVELS call number. Basically, you’ll want to do whatever best fits with your library and community. Also, if a nonfiction graphic novel is primarily intended to inform the reader about a topic, be it history, math, or any other topic, it should be cataloged in that topic’s call number. Therefore, most copies of Maus by Art Spiegelman are cataloged in the 940s, with the Holocaust books.

What title to use can be confusing. So many of the super-hero series - Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, etc. – have several series, then volumes within each series. The rule seems to be if an individual volume title can stand independently of the series, then one should catalog the book by the volume title, with the series in the series area. For titles such as Azumanga Daioh and Chrono Crusade, which don’t have individual volume titles, but only numbers, then the book should be cataloged with the series title as the main title, followed by the title of the volume (e.g., Azumanga Daioh Vol. 6). Some libraries use the series title as part of the title (Invincible Vol. 3: Perfect Strangers, for example). Including the volume number wherever possible will help you to keep the series organized chronologically, as subtitles may not alphabetize in order of publication.

Once you get by that hurdle, you’re then faced with the subject headings and subdivisions for form. Some libraries use Fiction, some use Comic books, strips, etc. Some libraries use Graphic novels and/or Comic books, strips, etc. as genre/form headings. However, Graphic novels as a genre/form heading should only be used if the title is indeed a standalone graphic novel, not previously published in individual comic book issues. Books that are compilations of previously published parts should be assigned the Comic books, strips, etc. genre.

Shelving

Once you’ve cataloged your graphic novels, then comes the question of where to shelve them. One school of thought says to intershelve all the graphic novels with the rest of the library’s collection, in order to encourage browsing. Another school of thought says shelve the graphic novels in a special area to highlight this section of the library’s collection.

I belong with the second group, based on my experiences in several libraries. Even if the books have the 741.5 call number, if they are pulled out from the rest of the books in that area and featured on their own shelves, they will circulate much better. Visibility is the key, because so many library patrons still don’t know that libraries carry graphic novels; if they don’t expect to find them, they won’t look in the 741.5s. (Let’s face it, most library patrons don’t know the Dewey call numbers!)

If the books are shelved in a separate, visible area, however, they will catch the eye of patrons young and old. Even if they are shelved in a not-so-visible area, they are still more easily seen than when stuck in the 741.5s.

If you’re just starting out and have a fairly small collection, you don’t have to go to great expense to display your graphic novels. Simply shifting other books to clear a couple or several shelves at the end of a range can be good enough. Or, you can use a book cart placed at the end of a shelf to hold your graphic novels. It can be as simple as making a sign to show you have graphic novels on the shelf, they will move as people find them in your library.