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Michigan State University

Narrative in the College Classroom: Special Collections

Special Collections

The Special Collections Reading Room is now located on the first floor of the Main Library! Look for the glass-walled area across from the Circulation Desk, halfway between the north and south entrances.

  • Special Collections materials may be used only in our reading room. Search our catalog and place requests online, or consult with a librarian when you arrive.
  • The majority of our collection is housed in the Main Library and can be paged for you in 5-10 minutes. If you place requests ahead of time, your material will be ready when you arrive.
  • Some materials, including archival collections and oversize items, are stored off-campus. If the location says REMOTE, request the item three days before your visit.

Comic books & graphic novels

We have about 250,000 comic books and graphic novels, all individually cataloged. The collection includes thousands of comics from all over the world in their original languages, and a limited number of foreign comics in English-language translations.

The subject headings for comics start with the subject content, followed by a subheading "comic books, strips, etc." Combine these in a keyword search, such as:

For comics with personal content, search Autobiographical comic books, strips, etc.

Zines

We have a growing collection of zines, including many with personal content. Do a keyword search for the term Zines and a word or phrase from your topic of interest. Example:

keyword = zines and eating disorders