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Albert S. Cook Library

Comics & Graphic Novels

How to find comics at Albert S. Cook Library, plus other comics resources

Miriam DesHarnais

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Miriam DesHarnais
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Where to find comics and graphic novels in the library

There are several locations where comics, graphic novels, and related books can be found at Cook Library. If you are unfamiliar with reading call numbers, read our How-To Guide (http://towson.libguides.com/howto/book) or ask for assistance at the Research Help Desk.

In the stacks: NC1300-1766 (4th floor, towards the front)

  Here you will find several books about comics history and cartooning.

In the stacks: PN6700-6790 (4th floor, towards the back)

Here you will find comic books and graphic novels for mature readers. Here you will also find books that are about comics-related topics, such as “The Secret History of Wonder Woman.”

In the stacks: throughout the collection (4th and 5th floors)

Graphic novels - especially those that are nonfiction genres, such as history and biography - may be found elsewhere throughout the stacks, depending on subject. These are often nonfiction narratives, such as histories and personal memoirs.

 

Some examples:

  • Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki, DS888.5 .M59313 v.2
  • The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir Novel by Thi Bui, E184.V53 B85 2017
  • A.D. : New Orleans after the deluge by Josh Neufeld, F379.N553 A26 2009
  • The Story of My Tits by Jennifer Hayden, RC280.B8 H3885 2015

Juvenile section (4th floor, at the back)

Most comics and graphic novels have a call number starting with “JUV 741” and are found in the same section of the shelves. These target audiences for these books range from children to young adults.

However, there are other comic-format books throughout the juvenile section that are shelved according subject matter, such as:

  • El Deafo by Cece Bell, 362.4 B4333d
  • Filmish: a graphic narrative through film by Edward Ross, 791.43 .R8238
  • Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, 973.0496 .G4755u

NOTE: The Juvenile section is ordered by Dewey Decimal System, while most of the library collection is ordered by the Library of Congress System. For a list of Dewey Decimal Classification and how to read Dewey Decimal call numbers, check out Washington State University’s guide.

Leisure reading section (2nd floor)

A few comics belong to the leisure reading collection, including:

  • Are You My Mother by Alison Bechdel,
  • Poe : stories and poems : a graphic novel adaptation by Gareth Hinds
  • The Sandman by Neil Gaiman

The leisure reading books are separated by fiction and nonfiction, and ordered alphabetically by author’s last name.