Our vision is to create libraries that embrace the world of manga as a catalyst for learning, imagination, and cultural exploration. Manga in Libraries is dedicated to the thoughtful integration of manga into the heart of libraries, which will inspire a lifelong love for reading, foster creativity, and provide a dynamic space where individuals of all ages can connect with stories.

Our mission is to assist librarians in the seamless integration of manga into their library spaces, curricula, and program initiatives. Through carefully curated book lists, insightful webinars, interactive workshops, and enlightening panels, Manga in Libraries is dedicated to providing resources that cater to the diverse interests and needs of our communities. 

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Executive Director
Jillian Rudes 

Jillian Rudes is the founder of Manga in Libraries, an organization that provides manga readers’ advisory lists and hosts manga webinars, workshops, and panels. She is a New York State dually certified English teacher and school librarian, currently serving as the school librarian at a grade 6–12 public school in New York City. Jillian is also the President-Elect of the American Library Association’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. In 2020, she received the American Association of School Librarians’ Collaborative School Library Award, and in 2022, she was honored with the American Library Association’s Scholastic Library Publishing Award. Jillian was also recognized as the “Manga Maven” by Library Journal and selected as a Library Journal Mover & Shaker in 2022. 

Leadership/Committees:

Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - President-Elect 2025-Present
Anime NYC - Librarian and Educator Programming Track - Organizer/Host 2024-Present
Manga in Libraries - Founder/Executive Director 2021-Present 
New York City Department of Education - School Librarian 2010-Present
Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - ALA Annual Conference Committee - Liaison 2025-2026
American Library Association - Committee on Committees 2024-2025
American Library Association - Councilor-At-Large 2023-2026
Institute of Museum and Library Services - Grant Project Manager 2023-2026
Queens College - Graduate Course - Manga in Libraries - Adjunct Lecturer 2023-2025
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards - Judge 2023-2024
New York Comic Con - Day of Manga - Organizer/Host 2022-2024
American Library Association - Conference Committee - Program Jury Co-Chair 2021-2023
American Library Association - Conference Committee - Committee Associate 2021-2023
American Association of School Librarians - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community of Practice Liaison 2021-2022
American Association of School Librarians - Member Engagement Committee 2021-2022
New York City School Librarians' Association - President 2021-2022
New York Comic Con - Professional Programming Committee 2021
Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - Libcomix Online Program Planning Committee 2020-2022
American Association of School Librarians - National Conference Committee - Co-Chair 2020-2021
New York City School Librarians' Association - Vice President of Programming 2019-2021
New York Library Association - Pop Culture Round Table Treasurer 2019-2021
Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - Convention Planning Committee 2019-2020
New York City Department of Education - Japanese Culture & Manga Cooperative Collection - Founder/Librarian 2018-2023
American Association of School Librarians - National Conference Committee - Co-Chair of Programming 2018-2019
New York City School Librarians' Association - Vice President of Membership 2017-2019
American Association of School Librarians - School Library Month Committee - Chair 2017-2018
American Association of School Librarians - School Library Month Committee 2014-2018
New York State Education Department - English Teacher 2006-2010
Borders Books & Music - Bookseller 2000-2007

Panels/Presentations:

New York Comic Con - Panel: Creepy, Crafty & Curriculum-Ready: Spooky Stories for Classrooms, Libraries... 2025
New York Comic Con - Panel: How to Start Building a Manga Collection for your School or Library w/ Kodansha 2025
Flame Con - Panel: Bans Off! Defending Comics in Schools and Libraries 2025
Anime Expo - Panel: Horror and Transformation: A Curriculum Exploring Junji Ito 2025
Anime Expo - Panel: Academic Symposium - Educator’s Roundtable 2025 
Anime Expo - Panel: Manga and Anime Clubs: Best Practices, Challenges, Successes! 2025 
The Japan Foundation Toronto - So, What is Manga and Why Does It Matter? 2025
Toronto Comic Arts Festival - The State of Manga in Schools and Libraries 2025
Library Journal & School Library Journal - Youth Services: Building Relationships, Programs, and Engagement 2025
OWWL Library System - Manga in Public Library Collections and Programs 2025
MINT Project - Manga in Libraries: What Is OK and What is Not OK 2025
Empire State Library Network - Manga in Libraries and Academia 2025
New York Comic Con - Panel: Shadows and Stories: Integrating Horror Manga into Library Collections 2024
New York Comic Con - Panel: Manga in Academia: Exploring Cultural Impact and Academic Perspectives 2024
Anime NYC - Panel: A History of Manga by Decade: Two Books at a Time 2024
Anime NYC - Panel: Choosing the Perfect Manga for Your Library Collection 2024
Anime Expo - Panel: Manga in Libraries and Beyond… 2024
Anime Expo - Panel: Manga and Anime Clubs: Best Practices, Challenges, Successes! 2024
The British School of Brussels - The Globalization of Manga and Its Role in Libraries 2024
University of Tennessee’s School of Information Sciences - Manga in Libraries 2024
Suffolk Cooperative Library System - Manga in Public Library Collections and Programs 2024
Anime Boston - Panel: The Choice is Yours: Best Manga Ever w/ Kodansha 2024
Anime Boston - Panel: Building a Manga Collection for a Library 2024
Hillsborough County Public Schools - Webinar: Promoting SEL through Manga 2024
New York Comic Con - Panel: Exploring Manga: Publisher Picks for Must Read Titles 2023
Detroit Public Library - Webinar: Manga in Public Library Collections and Programs 2023
Manassas City Public Schools - 2-Hour Workshop: Manga in School Libraries 2023
San Diego Comic Con - Panel: Best & Worst Manga 2023
American Libraries - Call Number Podcast: The Colorful World of Comics 2023
AniTOMO: Manga & Anime Convention - Panel: The Impact of Manga Beyond the Pages 2023
ALA Annual - Panel: Manga Connects to BIPOC Teens 2023
Library Journal & School Library Journal - 2-Hour Workshop: Manga Crash Course for Your Library or Classroom 2023
Baruch College Manga Symposium - Lecture: The Globalization of Manga and Its Role in Libraries 2023
School Librarians United Podcast - Interview: Manga in Libraries 2023
Texas Library Association Annual Conference - Presentation: Manga Connects to BIPOC Teens 2023
Holston River Regional Library - 3-Hour Workshop: Manga in Libraries 2023
United States Board on Books for Young People- Panel: The World of Language - Manga: The International Literature 2023
Young Adult Library Services Association - Webinar: Manga in the Library: Manga 101 2023
Australian Library and Information Association - Webinar: Nurturing & Inspiring Readers & Creativity Using Graphic Novels... 2022
Future Ready Librarian Podcast - Interview: Manga in Libraries 2022
Anime NYC - Panel: Defending Manga 2022
Young Adult Library Services Association Symposium - Preconference 3-Hour Workshop: Manga in Libraries 2022
New York Comic Con - Panel: Best & Worst Manga 2022
New York Comic Con - Panel: The Manga Industry and Your Library! 2022
New York Comic Con - Panel: Defending Manga 2022
New York Comic Con - Panel: The Rise of YA Graphic Novels & How They’re Bringing New Readers to Comics 2022
San Diego Comic Con - Panel: Best & Worst Manga 2022
American Library Association Annual Conference - Panel: The Value of Manga in School Libraries 2022
American Library Association Annual Conference - Panel: Ushering in a Diverse and Inclusive New Wave of Manga 2022
Ramapo Catskill Library System - Webinar: Manga in Libraries 2022
New Jersey Association of School Librarians - Presentation: Reading Manga Sparks Joy 2022
Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - Presentation: Introduction to the Best Graphic Novels Reading Lists 2022
New York City Department of Education - Webinar: Manga in Libraries 2021
Anime NYC - Panel: Teen Talk Through Manga 2021
EdCamp Cardigan Camp - Panel: Manga Collection Development 2021
New York Comic Con - Panel: Best & Worst Manga 2021
New York Comic Con - Panel: Teen Talk Through Manga 2021
Comics Beat - Panel: Best and Worst Manga 2021
International Association of School Librarianship Conference - Presentation: Manga in School Libraries... 2021
Library Pass - Panel: Understanding Manga 2021
New York City Department of Education - Presentation: Visual Storytelling in Japan 2021
San Diego Comic Con - Panel: How to Find and Choose Graphic Novels for Students 2021
School Library Journal Conference - Panel: Teen Services Virtual Events 2020
San Diego Comic Con - Presentation: Manga in School Libraries: Authentic Learning from America to Japan 2019
American Association of School Librarians - Presentation: The Power of Manga, Comics, and Graphic Novels… 2019
New York Comic Con - Panel: #RepresentationMatters in Your School Library 2018
New York Comic Con - Panel: The Librarian Is In: #ComicsForAll 2018
New York Library Association Conference - Presentation: The Power of Manga, Comics, and Graphic Novels… 2018
Queens College Graduate School - Presentation: Reading Motivation Events in the School Library 2017
New York Comic Con - Panel: Building a Culture of Reading: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga in Schools 2017
New York City School Library Conference - Presentation: Fostering a Culture of Reading Through Library Programs 2016

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