Graphic Novels in Japanese

Graphic novels are popular with a lot of people these days. This collection is unusual because they are in Japanese. I believe they are the Shonen Jump magazines because that is what some of the mailing envelopes say in English. The cover with the English word Boy appears to be number 50 with a date from 1992. (Fortunately for me, the date and the word printed is in English). The cover with the word DVD on the cover is dated 2007. These are just two from 3 boxes full.

We are running a trial of publicizing them on this blog. If you are interested in one or more, please contact the Friends at George Mason Regional Library by phone or email. The price is a bargain at $2 per volume if you pick them up. Please make the contact and an appointment first; don't just show up because only a select few people at the library can show you the magazines.

If you know someone who reads Japanese and likes graphic novels, please tell your friend about this great offer. I think they would make great summer time reading for a special person.

Rain, Rain, Sweet Summer Rain

Have you gotten rained on unexpectedly this week? Did you leave your umbrella at home to your eternal regret? Did the rain cancel some of your errands?

I can answer "yes" to all of those questions. I can also add a plea to our donors. When it rains, protect your books. Leave them indoors, safe and dry. Put them in a closed bag or box if you must take them out. Don't put the box on the ground when you open your trunk or your car.

Why do I care? I care because this week we were given some lovely books. Unfortunately the box was wet. When the box gets wet, the books inside get wet. The dust jacket wrinkles. The pages glue themselves together. The colors on the binding run. Mold or mildew grows. Wet books get other books wet. Our only recourse is to put them in the trash.

A related plea: bring your donations during library hours. We find books left outside at the back door. We find books left outside at the front door. One day, I found a bag of books under the opening for the library book drop. Many, many times these treasures have been rained on (or snowed on) before they are found and brought in.

We love your donations. We love them best when they are clean and dry.