Daily Thoughts 04/16/2013
I checked the Twitter and Facebook for the library this morning. I also spent a little bit of time checking the displays. In addition, I did a little bit more weeding in the 900s. I also spent a little time creating a list for the cookbooks.
We are working on setting up a new set of classes starting in May for Powerpoint and Excel on Thursday. This will allow the library to have one day for beginners on Tuesday and more advanced classes on Thursday. I am looking forward to it happening. I also spent a little time on ordering this morning.
The graphic novel, The Initiates A Comic Artist and a Wine Artisan Exchange Jobs by Etienne Davodeau came in for me to read. It is comics lit or comics as literature. The book, Not in the Club An Executive Woman's Journey Through the Biased World of Business by Janet Pucino came in for me to read.
I read The Initiates on the way home. It was very enjoyable reading. The art is in black and white. It is a slice of life comic focusing on the friendship between a vintner and a comic artist. The comic artist works for the vintner and describes the job.
The story is especially interesting because the wine making operation is run on biodynamic principles a practice similar to organic farming with additional practices like spraying mineral infused water on plants, paying close attention to the soil, and using very specific pruning and growing methods.
Also, the feel of the comics industry in France is much different than in the United States. Comics is a much more respected industry.
I very much enjoyed the artwork. It is black and white with a lot of use of greys. There are ink washes which add different tones and shades to the background. The lines are not heavy, but are quite detailed. The square and rectangular panels are varied in shape and size which adds a little visual variety. The dialogue boxes also fade into the background sometimes which makes the lettering stand out a little more.
The story is very focused. It is about wine and comics. It switches back and forth between the two art forms. There is quite a bit of drinking in the story, but people don't get drunk. Wine is viewed from an intellectual and artistic standpoint, something to socialize with and share as part of an artistic conversation. In many of the panels the vintner and comic artist are sharing with publishers or other vintners. The vintner goes to various comic conventions and views comic art shows like they would have in the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York.
I enjoyed reading the story. It was different than most graphic novels I have read. Much more artistic and philosophical.
2 comments:
It must be nice to have enough staff in your library to be able to do all these things. In my library, there's just me and a couple of part time support staff, and I have to teach classes as well. School kids, not Wednesday evening classes in PowerPoint. ;-)
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We are a large library. The money comes out of our programming budget to hire someone to come and teach the class. Quite a few of the larger libraries offer computer classes. I am mainly making the arrangements for the person to come in. There are certain requirements we have to meet to maintain our central status so we have to do many of these things with limited staff time. The collection consists of some 490,000 catalogued books, 21,000 serials, 17,000 audio and visual recordings and 158,000 other material holdings (including government documents) This is in one building. There are two floors which are closed stacks.
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