Paul Grech interviews Ryan Scicluna, the driving force behind Graphic Novels Library Malta, a crowdfunding initiative to introduce more graphic novels to our libraries.
You have to try really hard these days to avoid the influence of stories that were first told within the pages of comic books. They are the most successful movies at the cinema and the biggest hits on television. Their logos adorn clothes and references to them fill everyday conversation.
Yet, you still have to try really hard these days to find actual, paper comic books. There are a few specialised shops, but it is often the die-hard fans who go looking for them. For those whose love of comic books is still at an early stage, it can be quite a challenge to find the stories that fire up their imagination.
That is a situation that the Graphic Novels Library Malta (GNLM) want to improve on through a crowdfunding campaign launched at the beginning of May. The campaign aims to raise €2,000 in order to purchase graphic novels that will then be donated to libraries in Malta.
“In 2014, a collection of graphic novels was purchased by Malta Libraries and this is housed in the junior section of the library in Floriana,” says Ryan Scicluna, the enthusiastic chairperson of GNLM.
“However, their shelves are always empty because they are always out on loan. That shows you how popular these stories are. A lot of people don’t even know what titles are available because, unless you look into the library catalogue, you’re unlikely to come across them.”
There have been studies which prove the importance of comics in increasing reading levels
Ryan knows a thing or two about books; an assistant librarian at the University of Malta, he spends most of his days surrounded by them. Indeed, it was that intimate knowledge that got him to start GNLM.
“I was always a comic book fan and had built up my own library but I started wondering why these were not to be found in public libraries.
“I did a bit of research and discovered that there were practically no comics or graphic novels, neither in the University of Malta library nor the public libraries. Together with a fellow librarian – Luke Brincat – we set up a Facebook page in order to talk about this issue. At the time we had no thoughts of becoming an NGO, but we did organise some small events. These proved quite popular and things have progressed from there.”
Perhaps the most popular of these events organised by GNLM is the Free Comic Book Day where, as the name suggests, comics are given away for free. The NGO’s work, however, doesn’t end there. “We’ve done a number of presentations about comics and education by looking at particular comics, like V for Vendetta.
“To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Batman we looked at the various characters in this series. In particular, we discussed how a character, who was conceived in the 1930s, remains relevant and fresh to this day. We also showed a documentary about how Batman inspires children, particularly those who have been through some social trauma. This went very well, especially with the children who saw it.”
All of which feeds into the reason behind GNLM’s mission to bring more graphic novels to the public libraries. To the uninitiated, these might seem silly books aimed primarily at children – specifically younger ones – especially if their idea of a comic is limited to the likes of the Dandy or Beano. There is, however, much more to them than that.
“No matter how hard you try to put a book in front of someone who doesn’t want to read, it is unlikely that you’ll get them to actually read. However, a graphic novel is different. There aren’t too many words, so it doesn’t seem overwhelming and the story is usually very rich. There have been studies which prove the importance of comics in increasing reading levels.
“On top of that, graphic novels are extremely good at transmitting deep ideas that are often philosophical in nature. This is achieved through the use of images.”
Ryan himself should know all about this. His introduction to more serious comic book reading came through Superman: Red Son, which re-imagined how Superman would have turned out had he been raised in the Soviet Union.
“That really got me thinking. There were a lot of philosophical arguments in there that were quite intriguing, and I ended up looking deeper into a number of different ideas. That is when I truly came to appreciate just how important a role comics can play and how strong the message can be.”
Now, he wants others to experience the same feeling of revelation. “For the time being, we are hoping to buy books that are aimed for younger and teenage readers. We won’t be focusing exclusively on superhero comics but will also look for other types of stories.
“We’ve looked at what titles are common in libraries overseas, those which are considered as exceptional. We’re looking at the creators and artists. Obviously, there will be work by those who are well-known, but we’d also like to feature lesser known artists who have won literary awards. Ultimately, we want to provide people with a taster, in the hope that eventually they will start asking for the title they would like to see.
“Overseas comics and graphic novels have long been included in public libraries. We feel that the time has come for the same to happen in Malta.
“We want people to be able to read comic books for free so that they have access to the culture. Our hope is that people who are already into the genre, rather than buying a graphic novel for themselves, donate the same amount to our campaign. We also hope that those who aren’t into comics donate nevertheless so that they too can see what it is all about.”
For more information about Graphic Novels Library Malta and their campaign to pur-chase comics for the public library, visit http://www.zaar.com.mt/projects/comics-for-the-public-library-phase-1/. Anyone interested in getting in touch with GNLM or who would like to donate any comics for the Public Library can find the NGO on Facebook or e-mail gnlmalta@gmail.com.