The Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway

Press Release:

New York, NY — Author and illustrator Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules) has teamed up with Brodart, Diamond Book Distributors, and GraphicNovelReporter.com to donate his talent and his time to create the promotional artwork for The $20,000+ Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway at the American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference in New Orleans taking place June 24 to June 27.

The Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway awards one library a collection of over 700 hand-selected graphic novels for adults, teens, and children as well as fixtures and furniture. The entire prize will be displayed in Booth #1760 at ALA in a library setting with shelving, spinner racks, lounge seating, reading tables and chairs, accent tables and more. The contest is open to public, school and academic librarians in the continental United States. Eligible librarians can enter to win during ALA Exhibit Hours on Friday June 24 through Sunday June 26, with the Grand Prize Drawing on Monday, June 27.

“Libraries were among the first and biggest supporters of me and Amelia Rules! It was an honor for me to provide the artwork for this incredible giveaway,” said Jimmy Gownley.

“The sponsors appreciate Jimmy contributing these eye-catching graphics, which will give us the opportunity to draw attention to this prize that celebrates graphic novels and their popularity in libraries,” said Carol Fitzgerald from GraphicNovelReporter.com on behalf of all the sponsors.

Participating publisher sponsors, beyond the title sponsors include:
Abrams, Ape Entertainment, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Creative Arts Unlimited Inc., Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Fanfare/Ponent Mon, First Second Books, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Lerner Publishing Group, Marvel, Oni Press, Penguin Young Readers Group, Random House, Rosen Publishing, Round Table Comics, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Toon Books, Top Cow Productions, Top Shelf Productions, Unshelved, Viper Comics, VIZ Media, W.W. Norton, and Zenescope Entertainment.

The first $20,000 Great Graphic Novel Library Giveaway (at Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference in April) was a huge success, with libraries from all over the state of Texas entering to win hundreds of graphic novels as well as library shelving and furniture. The winner was Weslaco Public Library, represented by Eduardo Zepeda.

For more information please visit: http://www.shopbrodart.com/ala#giveaway

About Brodart Co.
Since 1939 libraries have been able to turn to Brodart for everything from shelf-ready books to electronic ordering systems, high quality furniture, and supplies. Brodart serves libraries from the Northwest Territories to the Pacific Rim, with facilities in the United States and Canada.

About Diamond Book Distributors
Diamond Book Distributors is a division of Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., the world’s largest distributor of English-language comic books and related merchandise. Diamond Book Distributors is dedicated to making a wide selection of graphic novels and other pop culture collectibles available to the book market.

About GraphicNovelReporter.com
GraphicNovelReporter.com is the newest website from TheBookReportNetwork.com (TBRN), which includes a group of six Internet sites featuring original content about books and authors. Since 1996, these sites — led by flagship site Bookreporter.com — have become the gathering places for a large and devoted audience of readers and book buyers. Monthly more than 1.6 million unique visitors come to the sites in the Network, making it the largest non-commercial group of book websites on the Internet. In addition, the company offers Internet design/development, marketing/publicity and resource services.

MCAF Announces Panel Schedule

The Maine Comics Arts Festival has announced its pre-convention panel schedule for Saturday, May 22nd hosted by the Portland Public Library (Main Branch, 5 Monument Square, Portland, ME) 

All Saturday events will be held in the Rines Auditorium unless otherwise noted.
Kids Cartooning Workshop – 10:00 AM

Children ages 7-12 are invited to try their hand at cartoon art. Using simple shapes, comic book artist Jay Piscopo will demonstrate how to build figures and perspective to create art that tells a story. Stand by for adventure in this hour-long, interactive workshop! Click here to watch a video clip

Portland, Maine artist Jay Piscopo is the author and illustrator of The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli all-ages graphic novel series. Piscopo also co-created The Scrap City Pack Rats, art directed the award-winning Fizz and Martina Math Adventures, and was an animator for ABC TV’s Squigglevision.
The World of Graphic Novels – 11:00 AM
Presenter: John Shableski, Diamond Book Distributors

“The graphic novel is to publishing today very much as rock and roll was when it first entered the music industry mainstream: a strange format already familiar to the popular culture but not yet understood by the established distribution channels.” ~ John Shableski, Diamond Book Distributors

This free presentation is for librarians and educators who are interested in the world of graphic novels and are looking for definitions, explanations, and advice on where to begin or expand your collection or how to effectively use graphic novels in the classroom. John conducts this workshop nationally with librarians and educators and is known for his interactive, conversational style. This is his first time presenting in Maine. You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity!

THE PRESENTER: John Shableski is sales manager at Diamond Book Distributors, the world’s largest distributor of English-language comic books, and one of the biggest distributors of graphic novels in the U.S. through its Diamond Book Distributors division. John has been a panelist at BookExpo America, a moderator for graphic novel panels at the New York Comic Con, a guest speaker at library events, regional book shows and a symposium coordinator. He’s currently collaborating on several graphic novel symposiums across the country. His focus is on the independent bookstore market, public and school libraries. 

Cartooning Styles – 12:30pm
A humorous presentation about art styles, featuring images of popular cartoon characters like Sponge Bob Squarepants and Mickey Mouse, and how different artists interpret them. We’ll talk about designing characters, and then give an interactive drawing demo, in which the audience will instruct Raina in creating characters and images.
Age range: 5 – 12

 
Center for Cartoon Studies Presents: Page Building Workshop – 1:30pm
This hands-on workshop will take a closer look at the basic building blocks of the comics page. Cartoonist and teacher Robyn Chapman will explain how to use page composition to control pacing and create effective stories. No matter how little experience you have, you will leave this workshop having composed a comics page!  All supplies will be provided.

 
Live Comics Reading: Smile & Astronaut Elementary – 2:30
Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman will read (and perform) chapters from their all-ages graphic novels, as the illustrated panels are projected onto a large screen for all to see. They’ll also ask for some volunteers from the audience to play some of the characters.
Age range: 5 and up. 
Featured Guest Discussion - 3:00pm
Jeff Lemire, Brian Wood and Skottie Young
This panel discussion will cover the works of the festival’s featured guests and will include a question and answer session.

 
The Pros and Cons of Small Press Publishing – 4:00pm
When a writer or artist decides to pursue the comic book industry, the 21st century has provided them with several different options, one of them being small press publishing. But how does one decide the best route to take. Join the creator of Sky Pirates of Valendor, Everett Soares along with Promotions Consultant, Susan Soares as they discuss the Pros and Cons of small press publishing as they share their journey through the industry.
Sunday, May 23 – 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Maine Comics Arts Festival
Ocean Gateway, Portland
Meet over 100 comic writers, artists and publishers, see exhibits and shop for cool comics and graphic novels. Click here to see the full guest list