files/pictures/picture-35.jpgTOKYOPOP and the Los Angeles Public Library 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 exec, 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.
TOKYOPOP created the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, and has developed its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment. The company's global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with recent offices opening in the U.K. and Germany and upcoming partnerships in Australia and China, in addition to its original Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. Visit
www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.
