Super Librarian Comic Book lauched in NJ

Nancy Dowd tells us this news:

TRENTON, N.J. — Spiderman might be appearing in theaters, but on May 5 Super Librarian will appear at comic book stores throughout New Jersey. Her mission in the inaugural issue is to snuff out a villain known as The Virus, but Super Librarian (the first comic book ever created, produced and issued by public libraries) has a higher calling: enticing young readers to the library.

May 5 is Free Comic Book Day, and New Jersey libraries are partnering with Diamond Distributors to reach out to comic book fans. Diamond is distributing copies of Super Librarian: The Virus at comic book stores throughout the state. Over 200 libraries across the state will join in the festivities by partnering with their local comic book store to distribute comic books and highlight graphic novel collections and teen services that can be found on their shelves.

Nancy Dowd tells us this news:

TRENTON, N.J. — Spiderman might be appearing in theaters, but on May 5 Super Librarian will appear at comic book stores throughout New Jersey. Her mission in the inaugural issue is to snuff out a villain known as The Virus, but Super Librarian (the first comic book ever created, produced and issued by public libraries) has a higher calling: enticing young readers to the library.

May 5 is Free Comic Book Day, and New Jersey libraries are partnering with Diamond Distributors to reach out to comic book fans. Diamond is distributing copies of Super Librarian: The Virus at comic book stores throughout the state. Over 200 libraries across the state will join in the festivities by partnering with their local comic book store to distribute comic books and highlight graphic novel collections and teen services that can be found on their shelves.New Jersey State Librarian Norma E. Blake said the Super Librarian project is one of the ways New Jersey libraries are enhancing their outreach to teens and taking a fresh look at reaching at-risk readers.

“Creating the Super Librarian comic book as a literacy tool is part of a larger strategy to connect to teens,” said Blake. “Librarians make a difference in the lives of New Jersey’s children every day — from mothers bringing their children to our libraries as babies for story-time, to our always popular summer reading program, to Teen Advisory Boards geared at empowering teens to creating programming that is relevant to them.”

“Super Librarian, anime and other graphic novels reach out to teens by communicating in a medium attractive to them,” Blake said. “The
State Library and INFOLINK are delighted to partner with Diamond Distributors to make the comic book available statewide with other popular titles on Free Comic Book Day.”

The comic book was developed by the New Jersey State Library and INFOLINK, the NJ Eastern Regional Library Cooperative, and is also available in Spanish, another segment of at-risk readers in New Jersey the library community is reaching. A Web version, available at www.njlibraries.org, further expands how the Super Librarian can be used as a teaching tool. The rollout of Super Librarian isn’t limited to the May 5 Free Comic Book Day giveaway.

The comic will remain online and available to download at http://www.njlibraries.org./

Contact Nancy at: [email protected]