TAL has cooperated with a comic book retailer, to provide graphic novels and comic books to its members at competitive prices. This is a new TAL offering meant to assist member public libraries in the precurement of print comic books and graphic novels for their library. This is a different type of TAL offer; this is print and not electronic resources and TAL will not be placing orders.
Interested members can be engaged in the process through TAL’s creation of a Comic Book working group, where members will use their expertise to assist with collection development as it relates to comic books and graphic novels. Variant Edition will be handling all of the ordering and fulfillment. TAL will work with TAL member libraries and library systems to assist with ordering as well as provide recommendations and collection development support.
All North American comic book shops work with the same distributor for many of the comic books they distribute: Diamond Comics. Most comic books and graphic novels that Diamond sells to retailers are non-returnable which means that comic book shops can get steep discounts. By purchasing directly from a local comic shop. TAL member libraries will be able to receive comics and graphic novels faster than if they were to purchase them through other vendors. Variant Edition was chosen as a TAL partner after investigating several Alberta retailers due as they are committed to inclusive service and offered TAL the best pricing of all the stores contacted.
Not applicable.