You know that graphic novels are getting more popular all the time. You’ve read GNs, but to do your job right you need to know more about them. Where to turn?

Let me take you by the hand. It’ll be easy.

Publishers Weekly issues a free e-mail newsletter called PW Comics Week, full of news, previews of upcoming graphic novels, links to reviews, and other useful stuff. You can sign up for it here.

The Comic Book Industry Alliance (CBIA) is a group of more than 500 comics creators, retailers, and other experts. If you’ve got questions about graphic novels, if you’re looking for a comics creator to do a presentation, or if you need anything else related to comics, the people on the CBIA’s very active message board can help.

The CBIA’s reach is worldwide. For information specific to your own area, your local comics retailers can be immensely useful. To find a retailer near you, call the Comic Shop Locator Service (CSLS) at 888-COMIC BOOK (888-266-4226) or visit the CSLS web page. You can also check out the master list of comic book stores.

Comic-Con International: San Diego, held at the end of July, is a must for anyone passionate about comics and graphic novels – or anyone who just likes spectacle. The four-day monster, the biggest comics convention in North America, gathers the entire comics community: more than 100,000 writers, artists, publishers, retailers, fans, and more. The show even has special programming for librarians. The 2007 con, for instance, included panel discussions such as “Graphic Novels in Libraries” and “The Secret Origin of Good Readers” (hint: the origin has something to do with comics) alongside “DC Comics’ Big Guns” and “Pro/Fan Trivia Match.” If you can’t make it to San Diego and you want to find a convention in your community, you’ll find links at Comic Book Conventions, Comicon.com, and Hoboes’ Comic Book Conventions.

You probably know that the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is a great source of guidance regarding graphic novels. The organization issues an annual list of Great Graphic Novels and sponsors “Get Graphic @ Your Library” workshops to help librarians work with GNs.

Once you get deeper into the world of comics and graphic novels, I think you’ll like it. We GN folk are a fun and friendly bunch, if a little on the geeky side.

See you soon, I hope.

Posted by: David Seidman