I love my local public library for many reasons, but the main reason is that it’s a treasure trove of graphic novels I wouldn’t ordinarily read. As a result of exploring its offerings I’ve discovered some of my favorite books, and so has my son.
I live in a sleepy little town in northern Massachusetts, closer to the New Hampshire border than to Boston. I wouldn’t have thought it would have a large selection of graphic novels, much less a worldly one, but the collection at my library has been nothing short of impressive, and important.
It’s got an incredible kids’ section that is filled to the brim with age-appropriate graphic novels, too! I’ve been taking my son to browse their comics for years, and each time we go we find something new to obsess over. It’s such an impressive collection that I’ve taken a few graphic novels out of that section for myself.
Although I’m speaking primarily about my own public library, I can almost guarantee that the one in your town is just as impressive and important. You should go there immediately, sign up for a library card if you don’t have one, and take advantage of the treasures that are waiting to be discovered.
And that’s the beauty of the library. There is so much there that is just waiting to be found. Fantasy and science fiction are my usual genres and I tend to save my money for those comics, but experimenting with titles at the library doesn’t cost me anything but time. I’ve read biographies of historical figures, memoirs, crime dramas, horror stories, adaptations of classic literature, and so many others. I’ve loved so many of them, and the few duds I’ve encountered have only cost me the time it took me to realize they weren’t for me.
So if you’re in need of inspiration or a broadening of your creative horizons, check out the offerings at your local library. You may find an unlikely title that will affect you so deeply it changes what you look for in a graphic novel. You may find artwork so stunning it inspires you to try a new approach to your own work. You may find a story that stays with you days after reading it. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.