Anime Manga at Local Libraries
Japanese-style comic books, animated films a hit among the young
By Matt O’Brien, STAFF WRITER
HAYWARD — Dallas Marshall is the sort of customer local libraries are trying to lure, and it appears to be working.
The 18-year-old South Hayward resident devours manga and anime — Japanese-style comic books and animated films.
He is an enthusiast of Japanese movies, television series and pop music. All can be bought at stores, but are increasingly lent free of charge by local libraries.
Anthony Dos Santos, director of the San Lorenzo Public Library, said his library’s growing manga and anime collection has turned into one of its biggest draws.
“It brings more kids into the library,” Dos Santos said. “We can’t keep it on the shelf. All of it’s always checked out.”
Dos Santos, who grew up reading classic American comics, said he has only read a few manga but found them more sophisticated than the traditional comics he read as a kid.
