LIS 6577 Graphic Literature for Libraries

Online, asynchronous course for University of South Florida students only. A survey of graphic literature for readers of all ages. This course explores issues related to evaluation, collection development, organization, promotion, readers’ advisory, programming, intellectual freedom, and the use of graphic novels in a variety of instructional settings.

Graphic literature is growing in popularity among both youth and adults for recreational and educational reading. Today’s graphic novels are more sophisticated and have been become more accepted generally as literature by the general population and academia. Increasingly, their merit as a way of engaging reluctant or struggling readers has been promoted in education and library and information science.

Graphic Medicine is an emerging field that considers the role that comics can play in medicine – including medical education, health literacy, healthcare communication, and much more. Each of these areas include heavy involvement of librarians.

Resource URL: [Pending]

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

•  Describe the key elements of the graphic novels format, including narrative structures and visual styles.
• Define and use key terms related to graphic novels with precision.
• Analyze the relationship between images and words in visual literature and their combined effect on storytelling.
• Discuss the evolution of graphic novels as a medium for communication and storytelling.
• Explain the role of visual literature in healthcare and its potential for patient education and empathy building.
• Elaborate on how visual literature serves as a vehicle for social, political, psychological, and philosophical commentary.
• Develop a graphic novel resource guide on a chosen topic, showcasing an ability to curate relevant materials.
• Formulate a comprehensive plan for using visual literature to address library issues, including readers’ advisory and programming.
• Improve existing policies for including graphic novels and visual literature in library settings.

Agenda

Course offered asynchronously, January 12 – May 7, 2026.

MLA CE Credits: 12