FCBD Fosters Partnerships Between Libraries, Comic Retailers

For the sixth consecutive year, comic specialty market retailers across the globe will team up with a diverse roster of publishers to promote the comic medium and their stores to consumers everywhere on May 5, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) 2007, and Diamond wants to help librarians begin what could become a lasting and beneficial relationship with their local comic shops by partnering with them to promote one of the industry’s biggest annual events!

Comic books and graphic novels are growing in popularity and acceptance as a form of mainstream literature, and libraries have played a major role in establishing that perception. Since libraries understand and appreciate the viability of comic books and graphic novels as educational tools to encourage reading among all age groups, the benefit of a strong working relationship with the local comic store.

A Fun, Free Way to Promote Reading and Comics!
For example, a great, inexpensive way to partner with a comic shop would be to have them distribute library promotional materials on Free Comic Book Day, in exchange the library can display FCBD posters and/or fliers before May 5. Plus, many retailers even donate store-stamped leftover free comics to the library for distribution after May 5!

The crew at Spazdog Comics in Phoenix, AZ offered this testimonial about cooperating with the local libraries in promoting FCBD last year: “SpazDog Comics held its Free Comic Book Day at the Maricopa County Library District’s North Valley Regional Library. We had artists and writers from all over Arizona that came to show off their latest comic books. As part of the day, we offered three comic books to anyone who walked in the door. If they showed us their library card, they could choose up to 10 comics. By the end of the day, the library had signed up more than double the number of people that they do on their busiest Saturday.”

Super Librarian Comic Available to NJ Comic Shops
Another example of a successful partnership between libraries and comic shops will happen in New Jersey during this year's FCBD. Local comic shops, partnering with their community libraries, will add an exciting, free title to their line-up: the Super Librarian Comic Book, offered in conjunction with the New Jersey State Libraries and INFOLINK!

Started as the program’s first-ever statewide marketing campaign to educate the public about the various resources available at the New Jersey Library Network’s 2,000+ branches, and to dispel misconceptions about both libraries and librarians, the new comic book will be handed out during FCBD events at participating stores. The book features the origin story of Super Librarian – head librarian of the Sandview Public Library by day, and defender of the written word by night – as conceived by 15-year-old Sharon Scaife, winner of the Super Librarian Backstory Contest.

Prior to FCBD, participating New Jersey library branches will promote FCBD by hanging posters directing patrons to the event, and by passing out bookmarks that promote FCBD on one side and the Super Librarian comic on the other. Then, on Saturday, May 5, participating FCBD retailers will distribute the Super Librarian Comic Book in their shops to steer customers to their local libraries!

Learn More Today!
For more information on partnering local libraries with comic shops for the industry’s biggest annual event, go to www.freecomicbookday.com. To learn more about the Super Librarian comic book and program, please visit http://www.superlibrarian.org!