Via Journalista!, a link that demonstrates how many pages you get for $60 in manga vs American Comics. It made me wonder how many libraries were subscribing to Shonen Jump, and it looks like so far, under 50.

I’m sure that most public libraries don’t have the spare funds to start up new magazine subscriptions, but if you wanted to beef up your library’s comic collection without buying a bunch of graphic novels, getting Shonen Jump or Raijin would be a great way to provide the kids with new comics regularly. You could also take out some of the freebies that come with the magazines (limited edition Yu-gi-oh cards and whatnot) and save them for reading program prizes.

I’m guessing that most libraries don’t tend to invest in 32 page American comics, if $3.00 for 32 pages is prohibitive for most kids, I can also see how anyone doing young adult collection development would tend to buy graphic novels instead. I do have fond memories of reading some random beat up old comic books at my public library like Amethyst Princess of Gemworld. If my 10 year old self were looking for comics at the library now though, she’d probably be overjoyed to find shonen jump or Magic Knight Rayearth.