As Chair, Vice-Chair, and Administrative Assistant of the ALA’s Best Graphic Novels for Adults Selection Committee, this trio is steering GNCRT toward greater diversity, awareness, and inclusion—transforming libraries into vibrant hubs for comics creators and readers alike.
In the evolving world of library collections, where graphic novels bridge literary depth with visual innovation, the American Library Association’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) stands as a beacon for advocacy and curation. For 2025, leadership falls to Joe Pascullo, Deborah Zeman, and Louise Lalonde, who helm the Best Graphic Novels for Adults Selection Committee. Their stewardship not only spotlights standout titles but also champions the medium’s role in fostering literacy, cultural reflection, and community dialogue. Amid rising challenges like book bans and underrepresentation, their vision ensures graphic novels—honoring every contributor from writers to translators—claim their place as essential library staples, amplifying diverse voices in an increasingly visual storytelling era.
Leadership Roles and Influence
At the helm of GNCRT’s flagship committee, Pascullo, Zeman, and Lalonde orchestrate a process that nominates and curates the best adult graphic novels published from late 2024 through 2025, drawing from a pool of submissions to highlight works that resonate with broad audiences. Their collaborative dynamic—rooted in monthly deliberations—balances artistic merit, narrative innovation, and social relevance, ensuring selections aid librarians in building inclusive collections.
Joe Pascullo, as Committee Chair and a Youth Services Librarian at the New York Public Library, guides these pivotal discussions with an eye toward the medium’s literary and societal heft. His background in YA programming, including guest posts on manga adaptations and comics’ crossover appeal, informs a leadership style that elevates titles probing intergenerational trauma or speculative fiction, like Clay Footed Giants or Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theater. Pascullo’s tenure emphasizes the full creative team’s contributions, crediting inkers, colorists, and letterers to underscore comics’ ensemble artistry.
Deborah Zeman, serving as Vice-Chair, brings her high school librarian expertise from Texas—where she’s a book influencer, edtech innovator, and presenter—to champion underrepresented narratives. With a decade in education and a focus on breakout educational tools, Zeman coordinates outreach that integrates diverse creators, as seen in nods to queer memoirs like It Rhymes with Takei or trans histories in Trans History. Her advocacy extends to programming that counters reluctance among readers, positioning graphic novels as gateways to complex topics.
Louise Lalonde, the Committee’s Administrative Assistant, keeps operations seamless, from nomination tracking to nationwide dissemination of the reading list. Her logistical prowess ensures recommendations reach library staff via webinars, toolkits, and conference sessions, amplifying impact. While details on her personal trajectory are sparse, Lalonde’s role is foundational, facilitating the committee’s 14 members—including J. Jared Alvarez Ginés and Ashlynn Bell—in producing a list that spans fiction like Holy Lacrimony and non-fiction such as War on Gaza.
| Leader | Role | Key Influence | Background Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pascullo | Chair | Guides selections on social/literary impact; credits full teams | NYPL YA Librarian; manga advocacy via blogs |
| Deborah Zeman | Vice-Chair | Coordinates diversity in creators/characters; edtech integration | TX HS Librarian; presenter & influencer |
| Louise Lalonde | Admin Assistant | Manages ops & dissemination; supports committee flow | Ensures nationwide reach for library staff |
Advocacy for Awareness and Diversity
Collectively, Pascullo, Zeman, and Lalonde propel GNCRT’s mission to destigmatize graphic novels as “legitimate” literature, suitable for all ages and interests. Through the 2025 reading list—featuring 30+ titles like Ginseng Roots (a pandemic-era memoir) and The Giant (Orson Welles biography)—they spotlight the medium’s narrative power, urging libraries to weave comics into reading challenges and educational curricula.
Their push for diversity is unwavering: selections prioritize marginalized voices, from Latinx stories in Soma to immigrant tales in Dogs and Punching Bags, aligning with GNCRT’s partnerships like the REFORMA Collaboration Core List for Spanish-language graphic novels. Zeman’s influence shines here, echoing her work in inclusive programming that represents English learners and reluctant readers. Meanwhile, Pascullo and Lalonde bolster awareness via awards and lists that nominate creators from varied backgrounds, countering Eurocentric biases in comics history.
GNCRT under their watch hosts free webinars like “Leaping Off the Page” on programming and the Addressing Comics Challenges Toolkit for anti-censorship efforts, equipping librarians to defend titles amid 2025’s ban waves. These tools foster critical literacy, using works like Joe Sacco’s War on Gaza for accessible discussions on global issues, while emphasizing racial equity and queer representation through lists co-developed with the Rainbow Round Table.
Impact on Medium and Community
The trio’s leadership has solidified GNCRT as a powerhouse for creators and librarians, with initiatives recognizing the entire production chain—from pencillers to translators—in every nomination. This holistic credit, evident in detailed bylines for titles like Helen of Wyndhorn, elevates lesser-known roles and inspires equitable collaborations, mirroring broader industry shifts toward team acknowledgment.
Nationally, their efforts shape standards: the 2025 Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grants—funded by Oni Press and Skybound Entertainment—reimburse up to $3,000 for diverse attendees like Sara Freeman (focusing on student representation) and María Vega (anti-censorship co-chair), enabling networking at ALA’s Philadelphia Annual Conference. These programs, tied to GNCRT’s free speech advocacy, position libraries as anti-ban fortresses, with toolkits aiding defenses of diverse collections like Black indie works from the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention.
Community-wise, Pascullo, Zeman, and Lalonde cultivate welcoming spaces: partnerships with comic shops and nonprofits build Comix Clubs and events on themes like immigration (Voces Sin Fronteras), reflecting patrons’ histories. Their collaborative ethos—evident in monthly fiction/non-fiction drops—has diversified holdings, from ecologist bios (John Muir: To the Heart of Solitude) to surreal horrors (The Harrowing Game), making libraries mirrors of society and engines for inclusion.
| Initiative | Description | Diversity/Impact Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Lists & Awards | Monthly nominations; full-team credits | Amplifies marginalized creators (e.g., trans, Latinx histories) |
| Travel Grants | Up to $3,000 for conference attendance | Supports reps like English learners; anti-censorship strategies |
| Toolkits & Webinars | “Leaping Off the Page”; Challenges Toolkit | Builds inclusive programming; defends queer/POC titles |
Conclusion
Joe Pascullo, Deborah Zeman, and Louise Lalonde have been linchpins in 2025’s graphic novel renaissance within libraries, weaving diversity and quality into the fabric of collections and programs. By honoring the medium’s full spectrum—from poignant memoirs to pulp parodies—they drive a movement where comics educate, empathize, and empower. In an age of cultural contention, their work affirms graphic novels as indispensable for literacy and belonging, inviting every library to champion stories that reflect us all.
