Librarians and retailers will find plenty of programs dedicated to their needs during the Friday 'trade' day session at the New York Comic Con on February 23rd. Exhibitors will also have special opportunities to interact and conduct business on Friday.
All the panel discussions aimed at librarians feature numerous librarians willing to share their wealth of experience as panelists. Programming for librarians starts at 10 am with a panel discussion of 'Superheroes and Manga: Making Room for Both at Your Library,' which explains how the two dominant types of graphic novels appeal to two different (and very reachable) audiences. Next at 11:15 comes 'Formats and Genres: Understanding Comics, Superheroes, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Manga, ComicsLit, Humor and Web Comics,' which is designed to provide librarians with a better understanding of the breadth and depth of comic formats and genres. Many librarians may also want to attend the 1:30 pm panel on 'Anime: Making the Most of this Video Entertainment,' which examines how to select and promote the best anime releases for library patrons. Finally at 2:45 pm 'Graphic Novel Classics Every (School and Public) Library Should Shelve and Circulate' should provide an invaluable checklist of titles and new ideas for all types of librarians.
Retailers have even more programming options to choose from starting at 10 am with 'Buying and Selling Comics Sidelines: A Concise Guide for Retailers,' followed by a choice between 'Diamond Tech Tips' and 'Kids Comics: The Category Waiting to Explode' at 10:30 am. At 11:30 am there is a choice of three panels including 'Graphic Novel Segmentation: Retailer Merchandising Best Practice,' which will provide valuable input on how to utilize sub-categories to streamline graphic novel sales, 'Manga: What's Hot,' a contemporary survey of the bookstore's dominant graphic novel genre, and 'Web Comics Today, Models, Trends and Opportunities,' a look at the electronic future moderated by ICv2's Milton Griepp.
At 1:30 pm Griepp also moderates another panel of great interest to retailers, 'Graphic Novels, Direct Distribution or Book Wholesalers,' which examines graphic novel sourcing options for bookstores and comic stores. Panelists will include representatives of Diamond, book wholesalers, and retailers that buy from both sources.
Next at 2:30 pm comes 'Capturing Female Readers: The Fastest Growing Audience for Comics.' Retailers who sell manga will also be interested in the 4 pm panel examining top manhwa publisher Netcomics, 'Heart and
Transcontinental Printing is sponsoring the Trade Day at New York Comic Con, and will be hosting its signature 'Blue Lounge' at the event for all exhibitors. The 'Blue Lounge' will be a special area where exhibitors can meet, network, and relax away from the floor.
Transcontinental is also one of three sponsors of the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference on Thursday afternoon (see 'ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference Adds Prominent Panelists' for the latest details on the event) and will be hosting the True Blue Martini cocktail reception at 5 p.m., after the panels, which run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
