Devon Vail
B, R. (2021, November 28). Ask the Comics Librarians: Manga FAQ – No Flying No Tights. https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/2021/11/28/ask-the-comics-librarians-manga-faq/
The article explains how different librarians define, organize, and manage manga collections in public libraries. Overall, they agree that manga is usually understood as comics created in Japan for a Japanese audience, though some libraries use a broader definition based on format or reader expectations. The librarians describe a range of shelving practices, with some interfiling manga with all graphic novels and others keeping it in a separate section. They also note that manga collections often span multiple age groups, with placement decisions based on publisher age ratings, reviews, colleague input, and reader demand.
A major theme is that manga requires different collection practices than other comics because most series tell one long, continuous story. This affects both ordering and weeding. Librarians often rely on standing orders, reviews, and patron requests to keep up with ongoing series. When weeding, they usually remove an entire series rather than single missing volumes, since incomplete runs are less useful to readers. Condition, circulation, available space, and replacement options all shape these decisions.
The article also emphasizes the importance of understanding readers and challenging stereotypes about manga. Librarians note that patrons often ask for manga by title, plot, or anime adaptation rather than by author. They recommend that librarians new to manga listen to patrons, read some manga themselves, and approach the format as a diverse storytelling tradition rather than a narrow style. In short, the article presents manga collection development as reader-centered, flexible, and dependent on both professional judgment and community interest.
I love everything from No Flying, No Tights, but I think think this FAQ/article is a great starting point for librarians with questions about manga and how to handle it in their library.
