Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table accepting applications for 2025 Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant

The Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) is accepting applications for their Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grants. This year’s grants are the 2025 Oni Press GNCRT School Librarian Confrerence Travel Grant and the 2025 Skybound Entertainment GNCRT Conference Travel Grant. These grants provide funds for newer library professionals with limited financial support to attend the upcoming 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, and recognize the value and expertise of comics librarianship. Applications for the grants are open now and the deadline to apply is March 26, 2025.

Through the GNCRT Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant two recipients will be selected to receive reimbursement of up to $3,000 (including registration) toward their attendance at the upcoming 2025 ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The funds are to be used to reimburse the cost of conference registration, travel and hotel expenses and meals during the conference. Additionally, GNCRT will provide opportunities for the grant winners to participate in sessions and network with comics publishers and their fellow GNCRT members. Applicants must be a member of the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. Find eligibility information and application instructions online.

This year’s grants are supported through generous donations from Oni Press; Skybound Entertainment, which provided essential funds and support to establish the grant in its first year; and Scholastic. Established in 2023, the GNCRT Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant offers support for the professional development of library workers interested in expanding their knowledge and experience with comics collections and programming in libraries.

“Though it’s still relatively new, the GNCRT Travel Grant is one of the most important initiatives we offer,” said GNCRT President Shira Pilarski. “Previous Travel Grant awardees have gone on to have a significant positive impact on both GNCRT and the realm of comics librarianship in general. I could not be more pleased that we are again able to offer this invaluable grant, thanks to the continued support of Oni Press and Skybound Entertainment, and thanks to our new sponsor Scholastic.”

“As President-Elect of GNCRT, I am proud to support initiatives that empower library professionals to explore the transformative power of graphic novels and comics,” said Shauntee Burns-Simpson. “Thanks to the generous contributions from Skybound, Oni Press, and Scholastic, this travel grant provides vital opportunities for professional development and strengthens our collective efforts to engage readers of all ages through visual storytelling.”

“I believe that these Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grants are one of the most valuable initiatives the Round Table supports,” said GNCRT Past-President Robin Brenner. “I am delighted by the strong support from Skybound, Oni Press, and Scholastic in giving library workers from across North America the chance to participate in the professional development, networking, and advocacy that ALA Annual Conference provides.”

Grant applications are due March 26, 2025 and applicants must be members in good standing of both the American Library Association and the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table. For more information on the GNCRT Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant including full eligibility requirements and instructions on how to apply please visit the Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant page online. Publishers and individuals interested in donating to support the GNCRT Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant can donate directly to support this grant at ALA's Donation Portal (click on ROUND TABLES at the top and then on GNCRT on the left side, then select GNCRT Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grant).

About the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table

The Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table of the American Library Association is dedicated to supporting library staff in all aspects of engaging with graphic novels and comics, including collection development, programming, and advocacy. For more information, connect with GNCRT on Discord; X: @libcomix; Instagram: @libcomix; Bluesky: @libcomix.bsky.social or the GNCRT ALA Connect page.

About Oni Press

Founded in 1997, Oni Press has a 25-year history as one of the industry’s most respected and acclaimed publishers of award-winning comic books and graphic novels with titles including Bryan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim, K. O’Neill’s Tea Dragon Society, Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt's The Sixth Gun, Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer, Ezra Claytan Daniels' Upgrade Soul, Brenna Thummler’s Sheets trilogy, and many hundreds more. In 2019, Oni Press merged with Lion Forge Comics – the Eisner Award-winning independent comic book publisher founded by Academy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur David Steward II – to create one of the largest, independent libraries of comics content anywhere in media. The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group now exists as a publishing subsidiary of Steward’s diversified global media company, Polarity.

The Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group publishes more than 60 original and licensed graphic novels annually, in addition to an extensive list of periodical comics.

About Skybound Entertainment

We do things differently here. Skybound is the creator-driven, fan-focused company behind landmark global franchises like The Walking Dead, Invincible, Impact Winter and hundreds more IPs that are redefining entertainment through our Wheel of Awesome business model. Skybound unlocks the unique opportunity to cultivate all aspects of a franchise from development through distribution; our IP connects with audiences through groundbreaking stories told on a grand scale. We empower our creators to directly expand their IP and turn their ideas into movies, TV shows, tabletop games, comics, podcasts, collectibles, video games, or all of the above and then some.

Skybound publishes award-winning and bestselling comics series such as Invincible, The Walking Dead, Stillwater and Ultramega, among others. Skybound's commitment to partnering with top industry talent and giving an elevated platform to diverse and unique voices has resulted in a record-breaking run on Kickstarter, where we launched mega-successful campaigns for Ava’s Demon, Extra Fabulous, and G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero — the most funded comic book campaign in Kickstarter’s history. Skybound Comet, our young readers graphic novel imprint, released the Clementine (set in The Walking Dead universe) series to great critical and commercial success. Skybound is also a savvy and sought-after licensing partner, working with companies including LEGO, Universal Products & Experiences and Hasbro to publish comics for their most coveted properties. Skybound’s Energon Universe series is Hasbro’s biggest comics launch of all time, with TRANSFORMERS #1 becoming the bestselling comic of 2023.

Skybound doesn’t just make global franchises, we change the way that global franchises can be made.

Follow Skybound on X (@Skybound), YouTube (Skybound), Facebook (@SkyboundEntertainment), Instagram (@skyboundent), Blue Sky (@skybound.bsky.social), Discord (Skybound), Reddit (Skybound), and at www.skybound.com.  

About Scholastic

For more than 100 years, Scholastic has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children's books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the only non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to America's libraries and library professionals. For almost 150 years, ALA has provided resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. The ALA serves academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit www.ala.org.