The ALA Annual Conference, just over a week away, boasts a wide array of programming devoted to comics and graphic novels. This year, there is a program for everyone.

There are excellent conference programs in the Programming Guide. If you’re having trouble navigating it, search the event planner for the keyword “graphic novel.”

This year, for the first time, additional graphic novel and comics programming will also be taking place at the Graphic Novel Pavilion in the exhibit floor courtesy of Diamond Book Distributors. These events grew out of a partnership between Diamond Books and the ALA Show Management Team, involving a lot of hard work and brainstorming by ALA Show staff Tina Coleman, Patrick Murphy and John Chraska and Diamond Books’ John Shableski.

Throughout the weekend at The Graphic Novel Pavilion, publishers will present previews of their upcoming titles in half-hour sessions at the Graphic Novel and Gaming Stage. Creators, including Raina Telgemeier (Smile: A Dental Drama), Barry Lyga (Archvillain), and Geoffrey Hayes (Benny & Penny) will also speak about their latest works. For the listing of the full schedule of programs and creators (which is not included in the ALA Programming Guide), click here.

Below are must-attend programs for anyone who works with Graphic Novels.

Friday evening, 8:00 p.m.

The popular Booklist Forum this year is called Comic World: Graphic Novels Come of Age and features an exciting panel of creators and publishers Francoise Mouly (TOON Books), Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Prime Baby), Mark Siegel (To Dance, Seadogs), and Matt Phelan (The Storm in the Barn).
Location: Washington Convention Center, 144A

Saturday, 10:00am

The Art of Graphic Novel Collection Development is for all of you librarians keen to understand the ins and outs of how best to maintain your collection, with librarian panelists Kat Kan and Ty Rousseau alongside Jill Faherty from Baker and Talyor and Raymond Barber from HW Wilson and moderated by Unshelved‘s Gene Ambaum.
Location: Exhibits, Graphic Novel and Gaming Stage

Saturday, 4:00 pm

Library of Congress Newspaper Section Head Georgia Higley and graphic novel publisher extraordinaire Francoise Mouly will present Back to the Future: Comics and Graphic Novels in Special Collections, investigating the format’s impact on juvenile publishing and the evolution and use of comics and graphic novel collections in the Library of Congress.
Location: Washington Convention Center, 145B

Sunday, 4:00 pm

The bloggers from School Library Journal‘s Good Comics for Kids (myself included) will present a primer on graphic novels for younger readers addressing such topics as creating a successful juvenile collection, age ratings, and favorite titles.
Location: Washington Convention Center, 152A

Monday, 10:30 am

David Small (Stitches) and Audrey Niffenegger (The Night Bookmobile) will speak about their ventures into creating graphic novels.
Location: Washington Convention Center, Ballroom C

Monday, 12:30pm

Christian Zabriskie presents Superbooks: How Graphic Novels Can Save Your Library with Amazing Circulation Numbers, providing an in-depth look with statistics at how much bang for your buck graphic novels give you.
Location: Exhibits, Pop Top Stage

Monday, 1:30pm

School librarians take note! Peter Gutierrez, Sari Wilson, Prof. Katie Monnin, and David Serchay all pool together their considerable knowledge to help you navigate the best methods and resources for teaching with graphic novels.  Make sure to check out all the other school-related programs here.
Location: Exhibits, Pop Top Stage

Monday, 2:30pm

Closing out the events on Monday at 2:30 pm, a diverse panel of graphic novel editors giving attendees the lowdown on graphic novel creation.
Location: Exhibits, Pop Top Stage

If you’re wondering just where I’ll be at during the weekend, I’ll be part of the panel The Best Manga You’re Not Reading panel Saturday as well as two more panels discussing the joys (and struggles) in creating the Great Graphic Novels for Teens List and serving as an Eisner Judge.

Finally, join everyone at the Graphic Novel and Gaming Stage for the Cosplay on Parade Cocktail Reception from 4:00-5:00pm on Saturday. Librarians will be strutting their stuff dressed as their favorite characters and showing off just how much fun cosplay (or costume play) can be. I’ll be in costume all day Saturday, so I hope you’ll say hello! Just look for Rapunzel from Shannon Hale’s Calamity Jack.