For immediate release | May 11, 2012

ALA GraphiCon—the mini conference within ALA Annual Conference!

CHICAGO — ALA GraphiCon is an innovation for 2012 ALA Annual Conference, offering a wide range of programs, events and exhibits specially for graphic novel and comic fans and anyone wanting to learn more about their role in the library.

GraphiCon 2012 @ Annual includes the following programs, with details in the Conference Scheduler:

  • Animated Tales: Storytelling in comics and animation and everything in between;
  • (Re)telling Stories: Fanart, authorship and how stories are shared, reconstructed and retold;
  • Graphic Novels & Comic in Libraries MIG Meeting; Conversation Starters: Convincing the Naysayers – Why Graphic Novels Deserve a Legitimate Place on Your Library Shelves;
  • Ignite Session: Graphic Nonfiction - a 21st century way to present information; Ignite Session: The Freakiest Comic Moments of Osamu Tezuka.

Artist Alley is a new space in the exhibits hall, next to the Graphic Novel/Gaming Pavilion. Attendees can meet the artists and illustrators who create or illustrate comics, games, graphic novels and books, including: Chris Giarrusso, Matt Dembicki, Faith Erin Hicks, Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman, Chris Schweizer, Gene Luen Yang, Derek Kirk Kim and Thien Pham, Jerzy Drozd, Mark Siegel, Alexis E. Fajardo, Darren J. Gendron, Lark Pien and Jen Wang, Anthony Del Col / Kill Shakespeare, Dan Santat, Tom Kaczynski and Gabrielle Bell and Jacob Chabot. Artist Alley artists are each donating an original piece of work for the silent auction for ALA’s scholarship fund, so don’t forget to bid!

Attendees can hear from authors, illustrators and creators of the hottest graphic novels at the Graphic Novel Stage in the exhibits—including open discussions, making comics come alive, manga previews, women in comics, the new visual literacy, imagining the fantastic and much more.

The Graphic Novel Pavilion offers the usual wide range of new and favorite materials on display from a wide range of specialist publishers, and ALA Play on Friday night is a fun event not to miss.

GraphiCon supporters can identify themselves by wearing specially designed items—get t-shirts and buttons in time to bring them to the conference! Special thanks to artist Dave Roman who drew and donated the exclusive GraphiCon logo.

Use the Conference Scheduler to plan your time, create your calendar and find out about many other Annual Conference highlights as they’re added—speakers, events, networking opportunities and more. Visit the 2012 ALA Annual Conference website for general information about the conference. Don’t miss out--register now!

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition—Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves

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Contact:

Tina Coleman

Marketing Specialist

Communications & Member Relations (CMR)

ccoleman@ala.org

800-545-2433 ext.2152