Comics News
Los Angeles Public Library and Manga Leader TOKYOPOP Announce Teen Reading Initiative
By Leroy Douresseaux
June 21, 2006 - 20:12




Los Angeles Public Library and Manga Leader TOKYOPOP Announce Teen
Reading Initiative

MANGA MADNESS SUMMER READING CLUB

Los Angeles, CA (June 22, 2006)-The Los Angeles Public Library and
TOKYOPOP, the #1 publisher of global manga, proudly announce the
all-new "Manga Madness Summer Reading Club," a first-of-its-kind collaboration designed to encourage teens to read. Teens, ages 11 to 18, who join the "Manga Madness Summer Reading Club" at their local branch library will receive a free folder, book bag, reading log, and bookmarks. Every branch will have special scheduled teen programs as part of the reading club. Also, each reading club participant will receive a certificate at the end of the summer reading program.

At the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library and its 71 branches, librarians have doubled and in some cases tripled the number manga series ordered for their young adult collections because of high demand from teen readers.

"What better way to get teens into the library and reading regularly
than to offer them something they love to read," said Georgette Todd,
manager of Los Angeles Public Library's Young Adult Services, which
coordinated the program. "Once they are here, they will be exposed to
all the other great resources available to them including a large variety young adult literature, study materials, PSAT and SAT books, computers, magazines, CDs, videos and other materials."

According to TOKYOPOP executive, Holly Smith, "Librarians across the
U.S. hopped onboard the manga train quite early, so a partnership with
the Los Angeles Public Library seemed like the natural next step in
TOKYOPOP's manga revolution. We are honored to be working with the LAPL and are extremely excited about getting teens excited about reading!"

The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest urban population of
any library in the country. Its Central Library, 71 branch libraries, six million books and state-of-the-art technology provide everyone with
free and easy access to information and the opportunity for life-long
learning.