Academic cybrarian, bibliophile & culturista. Mentor to library school (LIS) students and graduates. Advocate for all libraries and their users. [Fmr. Organizer, NY Librarians Meetup]
The Center for Cartoon Studies and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund are pleased to announce the permanent addition of a “Banned Comics” section to the school’s Schulz Library. The move is both in recognition of the library’s first Banned Books Week in its new location and the first anniversary of the CBLDF acquiring the Comics Code Authority’s infamous “seal of approval.”
The new section will highlight the long history of censorship in comics and raise patrons’ awareness of enduring First Amendment struggles by grouping popular yet oft-challenged landmarks, such as Maus, Watchmen, Bone, Blankets, The Sandman, Fun Home, and Stuck Rubber Baby; displaying an oversized reproduction of the now-defunct CCA seal alongside the works it abolished; and promoting the CBLDF with official signage and brochures.
It’s almost impossible to overstate the impact the Code had on American comics, so it was a symbolic triumph when the CBLDF obtained its seal last year. We’re excited to celebrate this anniversary with our friends at the Fund and inform the Cartoon Studies community about the ongoing defense of our freedom of expression.
On December 2nd the New York Library Club hosted its annual holiday social and dinner at Les Sans Culottes located in Manhattan at 1085 and Second Avenue (at 57th Street).The festive social gathering featured such wonderful French cuisine as Canard Montmorency (Crispy duck served with a cherry sauce), Boeuf bourguignon (Beef stew with a red wine sauce) Saumon á l’aneth (Grilled salmon with a dill sauce) and the always popular and delicious Mousse au chocolat (Chocolate mousse).
The NYLC awarded its $1,5000 scholarship to Long Island University’s Palmer School of Library Science student, Caitlin McGurk, who “aspires to promote the advancement of comics research by broadening their accessibility in the collections of universities and libraries worldwide.” In addition to interning at Marvel Comics, where McGurk created both a physical and digital lending library for all single-issue comics and bound volumes, she volunteered as an Assistant Archivist at Columbia University’s Butler Library. There she worked independently to sort, catalog and archive roughly 15 cubic feet of comics-- adding them to the Bulliet Comic Book Collection. Among the items archived were comics from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, comics illustrated by the legendary Robert Crumb and Jim Woodring as well as first edition printings of mini-comics by Optic Nerve’s Adrian Tomine. This past summer McGurk interned at the Schulz Library at the Center for CartoonStudies in Vermont (named after American cartoonist, Charles M. Schulz, who is best known for his comic strip, Peanuts) where she worked to maintain the Library’s collection and led tours. One of the tours she gave was to Sarah Murphy and Maria Falgoust of The Desk Set: an “everything books” advocacy group made up of a New York City area librarians, archivists, and bibliophiles. McGurk also publishes her own zine and mini-comics series called Good Morning You.
Many members of the NYLC were in attendance including President, Larry Kroah, who led attendees in a toast to honor McGurk’s achievement and celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Vice- President of NYLC and New York Librarians Meetup group’s very own, Stephanie Gross was also present. She spoke with McGurk about the meetup group as well as current issues in librarianship. Gross introduced Seoud M. Matta, Dean of Pratt University’s Library School. She pointed out that Dean Matta was responsible for updating the library school’s computers labs in the early 90’s. Author of Welcome to The Dahl House and Monsters, Gabby Schulz and Information Architect at Marvel Comics, Jen Cwiok were also there to celebrate McGurk’s accomplishment.
For more information about the New York Library Club including history, past events, membership and the scholarship award, please visit their website at http://www.nylibraryclub.org/index.htm
The Center for Cartoon Studies and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund are pleased to announce the permanent addition of a “Banned Comics” section to the school’s Schulz Library. The move is both in recognition of the library’s first Banned Books Week in its new location and the first anniversary of the CBLDF acquiring the Comics Code Authority’s infamous “seal of approval.”
