Thanks to your help on Give-N-Day, the Ellender Memorial Library will be able to help fuel students’ desire to read more through comics and manga.
Access Services Librarian Andrew Barbier says that comics and manga are amongst the most requested items that students have asked for. So he and a team put together a Give-N-Day campaign that raised $2,085, which will purchase a little over 80 books.
“Give-N-Day is a special time of year where we get an opportunity to impact the lives of our students more than we are already doing, thanks to help from the community,” Andrew said. “I’d like to thank everyone who donated or who helped spread the word about our fundraiser.”
Studies suggest that graphic novels and manga can help keep reading as an important hobby in a person’s life, and they can also touch on important topics for students. More information is in our previous article on early giving.
On Give-N-Day, Andrew, library volunteer Johnny Shinnaberry, Library Specialist Jenna Bergeron, and Government Information Librarian Jessica Hawkes hosted a 24-hour stream on Twitch. This produced an engagement for the library of 22,000 unique viewers.
Earning more than $2,000 also unlocked three stretch goals. Because of this, Andrew and Johnny will have to eat bugs, Johnny will get a low-tier taper fade, and Johnny, Jessica and Andrew will eat hot peppers from Andrew’s garden. You can watch the librarians and volunteers stream these challenges on Twitch or see the highlights on Instagram.
The library also won several special challenges, the Coco Marina Most Total Fundraising Champions Gifts by Organization for $100, the LaPorte CPA Fundraising Champion – Most Donations Received for $100, and United Community Bank Last Gift Received by 11:59:59 on March 14th for $200. The Ellender Memorial Library would also like to thank MyComicShop for a $300 gift card and Dark Horse Comics for book donations including Berserk and Hellboy.
“I would like to give a special thanks to everyone who helped me win $100 for the library,” said Library Director Brandy Burbante. “And I’d like to give an extra thanks to Andrew for organizing all the activities.”
The library will also be asking for recommendations on which comics and manga to purchase.
To recommend a graphic novel, fill out this form. The recommendation form for manga is here.
