YALSA Award

[Stan Sakai]

I've just been informed that UY Book 17: Duel at Kitanoji received a 2004 YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Award. I just found out that two other books--Grasscutter and Grasscutter 2--received this award in 2002.

YALSA is part of the American Library Association.

Hopefully, this will lead to greater availability of Usagi books in library and bookstores.

[takematsu]

Hopefully, this will lead to greater availability of Usagi books in library and bookstores.

Especially if one's local library receives a some sort of note making them aware of this resource, if their shelves are currently not graced by UY-- librarians worth their salt enjoy feedback from their community, and respond well to pleasantly-worded suggestions.

Some of us are lucky in this respect, of course-- UY aplenty 'round here

[Steven Ng]

Hi Stan:

I know our Alameda County Library has had the first three books for a long time in the Young Adult section. Now we have the Grasscutter II and Shrouded Moon books too. Most likely due to the recent YALSA award. Graphic novels are the hot thing in libraries today.

I'm a library driver clerk, not a reference librarian. However, the childrens' librarians know I'm a big cartoon and comic fan. (I introduced them to Nick Park's The Wrong Trousers.) So I was invited to join them as they chose graphic novels for the childrens' collection. Of course, I made a push for Usagi, but showed a number of books which I have so they could actually see them rather than just looking at catalogs and reviews. A couple of my titles which made the selection list were Leave It to Chance and Rod Espinosa's Courageous Princess. I think the color printing and hardcover format were big factors in their favor. Some others which didn't make the cut were Torres' and Bones' Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventure, P. Craig Russell's Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, Marvel Masterworks and DC Archives, Gownley's Amelia Rules! and Usagi. I did hear some good things about them, but not enough to get selected. They did choose a good number of manga titles: Cardcaptors, Sailor Moon, Angelic Layer.

Best,

Steven

[Stan Sakai]

So I was invited to join them as they chose graphic novels for the childrens' collection. Of course, I made a push for Usagi, but showed a number of books which I have so they could actually see them rather than just looking at catalogs and reviews.

I was a guest speaker at a library conference at UCLA about a year ago. Graphic novels are really popular right now, and libraries are doing their best to get them in their collections. The problem that they've come up against however, is that there is so much out there, all geared for different readership--general, mature, adults only. They've found that comics aren't just for kids anymore. And they can't just go by looking at the art--some manga titles, though they might look as if they're drawn for a children's market, are definitely aimed at adults. Librarians have to balance the wants of the public, with community standards, and with their lack of knowledge of a new field.

It's great that your library has a knowledgeable person they can turn to. Not every library does.

When I visited a library in Flanders, they had graphic novel sections very prominently in both the children's and adult's sections.

[Glennosuke]

Congratulations on your 2004 Award Stan!! .....(just found out about the 2002 awards? Hm....seems like someone forgot to inform the author!!)