Note: This is the programming open to members. There will also be free programming on the Exhibits Floor, near Artist Alley.
ALA Annual is also where the winners of the Youth Media Awards are lauded! You can review the graphic novel honorees here!
Friday, June 23rd
Graphic Novel Friday Forum: Read More, Read Better – Learning with Comics and Graphic Novels
Friday, June 23
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
McCormick Place, W183a
Graphic novels are a storytelling format, not a genre, and as with any other means of telling a story — whether the story be fiction or non-fiction — they can engage, teach, and inspire readers of all ages. This is why you are seeing graphic novels being used in classrooms more than ever before. During today’s Forum you will have the chance to learn from some of the most enthusiastic educators (and aren’t all librarians educators?) using graphic novels in the classroom today.
11- 11:15
Opening keynote from National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Yang
Gene Yang will speak on his platform, Reading without Walls, and discuss why comics and graphic novels matter.
11:20 – 12:10
The Grammar of Comics: How Teaching Visual Literacy can Open Up New Conversations
This educator-run panel will discuss the graphic novel/comic book language that is being used to open up students to new worlds of discussion. From reluctant readers to those with learning impairments, comics can be a vital tool to introducing key concepts and stories.
12:15 – 1:05
Publisher & Librarian talk-back session: librarians, come talk to publishers about how graphic novels are working at your library, and what they should know based on the feedback from your community!
1:10 – 2:00
Problem Solving: Teaching STEM with Comics
Graphic novels have moved far beyond the superhero genre. Non-fiction graphic novels are on the rise, and even fiction comics are providing a new approach to introducing STEM concepts. This panel of educators and librarians will discuss how comics can be used get students to think critically about STEM.
2:05 – 2:55
Books That Spark Change: Using comics and graphic novels as a jumping off point
This panel is a discussion on how literature, but specifically comics, can be a catalyst for change. Teachers will discuss how comics and graphic novels can both engage students, and empower them through the use of texts that illustrate how others fought for change, as well demonstrate how the texts themselves can spur others to seek change. We will explore how texts like March, Boxers & Saints, The Silence of Our Friends, and Persepolis can lead to transformative conversations, as well as share insights as to how students can use the graphic medium to find their own voice.
3:00 – 4:00
Meet the Makers
Attendees will have a chance to talk to comic and graphic novel authors and artists to learn the process behind making a comic.
Meeting Type: Discussion/Interest Group
Interests: Children’s Literature, Children’s Services, Collection Development, Community Engagement, Literacy, Popular Culture, Readers’ Advisory, Young Adult Literature, Young Adult Services, Youth Services
Type of Library: Academic, Community College, Elementary School, High School, Library School, Middle School, Nonprofit, Public, Regional System, Rural, School/Media Center, State Library, Student, Tribal, Undergraduate
Penguin Random House, which distributes many publishers of graphic novels and other geek-friendly titles, has announced a special schedule of programming on Friday:
LIBRARY CON 2017
Friday, June 23rd * McCormick Place *Signings will follow each panel discussion. Room #W183C
10:15-11:00: DC’s Young Animal Panel Discussion
Creators and writers from DC will discuss the launch of the NEW Young Animal Imprint. Hosted By: DC’s Young Animal editor, Molly Mahan
Panelists Include: Gerard Way, creator DC’s Young Animal imprint, Cecil Castellucci, Shade,The Changing Girl, Jon Rivera, Cave Carson Has A Cybernetic Eye, Jody Houser, Mother Panic, Nick Derington, Doom Patrol, illustrator
11:30-12:15: Girl Power Panel
Hosted By: Ivy Noelle Weir, formerly an award-winning young adult librarian. She has written for American Libraries Magazine, NovelList, and on WomenWriteAboutComics.com.
Panelists: Shea Fontana, DC Super Hero Girls (DC), Kim Dwinell, Surfside Girls, Book One (IDW Comics), Cecil Castellucci (DC), Shantel LaRoque, Editor (Dark Horse Comics), Jody Houser, (DC), and Kel McDonald (Dark Horse Comics)
12:15: (Free) Boxed Lunch Served
12:30-1:30: I’ll Take Audiobooks for $500
Test your knowledge of Star Wars®, Harry Potter, Dystopian Worlds, and YA Blockbusters in a Jeopardy®-style game show.
Hosted By: Marc Thompson, beloved Star Wars audiobook narrator
Panelists Include Authors: Julie Berry, Peter Bognanni, E. Lockhart, and three lucky audience members!
Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee Meeting I
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Swissotel, Zermatt
Meeting Type: Committee Meeting
Sponsors: YALSA
Cost: Included with full conference registration.
ALA Play
Friday, June 23
7:30pm-10pm
Hilton Chicago, Stevens Center, Salon A
Join the Games and Gaming Round Table (GAMERT) for an evening of exploration, play and making.
Saturday, June 24th
Auditorium Speaker Series featuring Gene Luen Yang
Saturday, June 24
8:30 AM-9:30 AM
McCormick Place, W375b/Skyline
Yang is a long-time educator who champions comics and graphic novels as educational tools in the classroom and has delivered a TEDx Talk on the subject.
The Diagnostics of Wattpad: Leveraging FanFiction to Develop Teen Library Collections
Saturday, June 24
8:30 AM-10:00 AM
McCormick Place, W184d
Learn how teens read and share their own stories with fans across the world and leverage Wattpad’s popularity to develop the young adult collection in your library!
Graphic Memoirs: how non-fiction graphic novels bring real lives to life?
Saturday, June 24
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
McCormick Place, W175b
In this panel comics creators will explain how they approached their subjects, how they decided what to leave out and what to include, and the extent to which they inserted themselves into the narrative.
Streaming Video and Graphic Novels from an Acquisitions Perspective: Unusual Workflows
Saturday, June 24
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
McCormick Place, W178a
Join us as we discuss the challenges posed by streaming video and graphic novels from an acquisitions perspective. Two librarians will identify the issues, describe what has worked for them, and discuss how to build upon existing library-vendor partnerships to better meet user needs.
Weird is the New “Norm” with DC Comic’s Young Animal imprint.
Saturday, June 24
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
McCormick Place, W183c
Keywords to Mastery Game: An active learning approach to discover research topics
Saturday, June 24
1:00 PM-2:30 PM
McCormick Place, W176b
A fun and interactive hands-on workshop where you build and play your own low-tech game that helps students gain keyword and natural language processing skills for database searching. Brought to you by GAMERT.
Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee Meeting II
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Swissotel, Zermatt
Meeting Type: Committee Meeting
Buzzworthy Graphic Novels from Scholastic with Donalyn Miller FEATURING Jennifer L. Holm
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
McCormick Place, Exhibit Hall – Book Buzz Theater
Comics Are For Everyone!
Saturday, June 24
3:00 PM-4:00 PM
McCormick Place, W176b
Celebrate the independent spirit and creator-owned ethos in graphic novel publishing with Image Comics and some of their creators.
Get Graphic with Penguin Random House
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
McCormick Place, Exhibit Hall – Book Buzz Theater
Running a Library Presence @ Fan Conventions, Festivals, and Events?
Saturday, June 24
3:00 PM-4:00 PM
McCormick Place, W474b
Learn about running panels for library staff and educators, offering readers’ advisory and research help, promoting diverse material, showcasing items from special collections, and running a pop-up library lounge!
Sunday, June 25th
Oni Press Book Buzz – Graphic Novels for Kids, Teens, and Adults
Sunday, June 25
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM
McCormick Place, Exhibit Hall – Book Buzz Theater
Stay and Play: Create Open Library Spaces and STEM Material Collections for Play-Based Discovery Programming
Sunday, June 25
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
McCormick Place, W175c
Learn how to re-resource your collection to include activity kits that inspire innovation, open-space programming pitfalls and lessons learned, and programming ideas for all budget levels.
International Comics – Culture & Creation Beyond America ?
Sunday, June 25
1:00 PM-2:30 PM
Hyatt Regency McCormick, Jackson Park/CC 10AB
Come hear how fandom and creator processes differ in other places, and how much common ground we really do share.
Fandom Programs for Tweens, Teens, and Adults
Sunday, June 25
1:00 PM-2:30 PM
McCormick Place, W187c
Give fans who are passionate about genres, characters, games, and book series plenty of reasons to return to your library again and again. You’ll walk away with inspiration and ideas that can be used with a variety of fandoms and interests at your own library!
Comics Roundtable: What does the future of comics librarianship look like? ?
Sunday, June 25
3:00 PM-4:00 PM
McCormick Place, W476
Bookseller Andrew Woodrow-Butcher and librarian Lindsay Gibb will be leading a discussion with other comics librarians and professionals about the conversations we need to be having around comics in libraries.
French Comics on Screen: Film Adaptations of Franco-Belgian Graphic Narratives
Sunday, June 25
3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
McCormick Place, Exhibit Hall – Chapter 1 Stage
Monday, June 26th
Telling Their Stories through Graphic Novels – Views from Behind the Fence
Monday, June 26
3:00 PM-4:00 PM
McCormick Place, W176b
A school librarian and school library professor will describe the 2016 Will Eisner Innovation Grant Award project where incarcerated students wrote and story-boarded the text for a graphic novel based on their gang experiences. Participants at this session will learn how they can replicate this writing and visual literacy program at any school level.
