Amarillo Public Library is happy to announce that Comics Plus, an online library of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga, will soon be available to APL cardholders.  Comics Plus offers readers unlimited access to thousands of titles on a computer, tablet, or phone with no holds, no wait lists, and no monthly borrowing limits.

Director of Library Services Amanda Barrera says APL is excited to be launching Comics Plus at the end of the school year.  “For some students, the summer holiday is a chance to read what they want, and many choose comics.  Adding Comics Plus to our digital offerings means they can always have something to read at hand, and the evidence is overwhelming that students who read over the summer do better when they return to school in the fall.”

Because comics and graphic novels are available at all reading and content levels, the Comics Plus collection is divided into three distinct categories:  Full Access (which includes titles for all ages), Teen, and Children’s.  APL cardholders will have access to each collection based on the age recorded in the patron database.  Parents who wish to give their kids access to a larger collection, or limit teens to the youth collection, can opt to have their child’s category changed in the system.  To take advantage of this service, parents will need to bring their child’s library card to one of APL’s locations and ask APL staff to make the change.

Barrera adds that, far from being “easy” or “not real reading,” engaging with comics or graphic novels have proven educational benefits for readers at all levels.  “Comics require readers to make inferences and draw connections between the words and pictures on a page, which is a complex reading strategy.  They can also improve visual literacy, help reluctant readers build confidence, and feature characters underrepresented in traditional media.  Comics and graphic novels often cover nonfiction topics including history and science.  They can be an invaluable educational resource, and we are delighted to be expanding our patrons’ access to them.”

ComicsPlus will be available starting May 1.  To access the service, visit amarillolibrary.org and select Literary from the list of Education Services, then find Comics Plus, or download the Library Pass app.  Either way, patrons will need to log in with their library card number and PIN.