By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Chilton County High School library will be expanding its collection of graphic novels thanks to a $600 Partners Enhancing Education in Chilton County grant.

“It is a book in that comic book format,” Librarian Jennifer Blencowe said. “They have really become popular of late.”

Blencowe said students were asking for books in this format, and she was able to add a few.

The grant will provide additional titles, including classics reimagined and modern books that have only been released in this format.

“I’m really appreciative,” Blencowe said.

The current collection includes “Gossip Girl,” one by Marvel of “Pride and Prejudice,” the Bible, a biography and a book about the civil rights movement.

“I want to expand it beyond just the kids that are coming asking for them,” Blencowe said.

She said she hoped by having more titles that additional students will give it a try, including “reluctant readers. Those who are intimidated by a text that is really dense.”

“If we could break it up make it a little easier, I think they would be more interested,” Blencowe said.

She hopes the format will make longer classics more appealing to students.

Blencowe plans to purchase 40 to 50 books, including more of the “March” series, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Macbeth,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” biographies of famous people and modern young adult fiction.

“I want to get a little bit of everything and see what the kids like,” Blencowe said.

Many students use the library for class assignments, but Blencowe wants to see the use for pleasure reading increase. She said the school has established “a culture of reading,” so the library is used more than some other high school libraries.

“A lot of research shows that the best way to increase ACT scores is to read widely and to  read a variety of different things,” Blencowe said.

She said new books help keep students interested.