Media Release -- The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce that the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) is the 2013 recipient of the Small Press Expo Library Gift Program.
This program is an outright gift of graphic novels to the library as selected by the library's Collections Specialist, who selected 63 titles comprising 251 individual books. These books will be distributed to the Rosedale and William O. Lockridge/Bellevue branches.
Today there was a formal presentation of the books to the the library by Small Press Expo Executive Director Warren Bernard. The event was held at the Rosedale Neighborhood Library.
"The library takes pride in offering the books that people want at their library," said Ginnie Cooper, chief librarian for the DC Public Library. "With the growing popularity of graphic novels, this gift allows District residents the opportunity to discover new titles and characters at their Library. We cannot thank the Small Book Expo enough for this donation."
"It is with pleasure that Small Press Expo adds to the graphic novel collection of the DC Public Library," said Warren Bernard, Executive Director of the Small Press Expo. "We are thrilled at the selections made by their collections staff and we know that the readers will enjoy them. We are especially proud that these books will find their way the readers of all ages who normally would not have a chance to see this great work being done in the graphic novel field."
The books were selected by the library's collection staff from the offerings of publishers Fantagraphics, Top Shelf, Drawn & Quarterly, Adhouse Books and Koyama Press, all of whom support this program.
Artist and illustrator Kali Ciesemier designed a special bookplate that has been placed in all of the books donated by SPX. To see the book plate and for more information on the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, go to http://www.spxpo.com/graphic-novel-gift-program.
SPX's Graphic Novel Gift Program is an expansion of the philanthropic and charitable endeavors that are part of its corporate charter, and is in addition to SPX's annual support to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The targets of this program are public and academic library systems in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area as selected by the Small Press Expo.
The goals of this program are:
- Facilitate the availability of graphic novels to readers of all ages utilizing public and school libraries.
- Promote learning and literacy through the availability of graphic novels at local libraries.
- Provide library systems with additional resources by which they can purchase graphic novels and comics.
SPX will be held Saturday, September 14 from 11am-7pm and Sunday, September 15, 12-6pm at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in North Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.
For further information on the Small Press Expo Graphic Novel Gift Program, please contact Catherine Fraas at catherine@spxpo.com.
For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.
