On Tuesday evening, April 14, the Calvert Library in Prince Frederick was overrun with manga characters who invaded the library for Anime/Manga Night at the popular main branch.
Approximately fifty teens and a dozen adults came for a pilot event put together by Public Services Librarian Allyson Evans as her Library Associate project. This was a great opportunity for fans of anime and manga (Japanese-style cartoons and comics) to share their enthusiasm.
Evans quizzed attendees on their manga knowledge, held artwork and cosplay (costume) competitions, and then the group watched an anime episode while enjoying Japanese snacks and generally having a great time.
Snacks ranged widely encompassing everything from a manga-inspired cake to the ever-popular pocky and a traditional Japanese dessert, mochi. The new snack foods were new to many of the attendees, but more than a few enjoyed the fresh snack tastes and smells.
When asked about the favorite activity of the evening Evans said, “The art. Some of these kids have real talent. I saw several of them whipping up entries on the spot for the contest.”
Keep an eye out for future programs catering to this up-and-coming population of readers.
