Wednesday, August 24, 2011

PR: Announcing the First Recipient of the Small Press Expo Graphic Novel Gift Program

Announcing the First Recipient of the Small Press Expo Graphic Novel Gift Program

For Immediate Release:          Contact: Warren Bernard


Bethesda, Maryland; August 24, 2011 - 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 Montgomery County Public Library (MCPL) of Montgomery County, Maryland is the first recipient of the Small Press Expo Graphic Novel Gift Program.
MCPL was chosen this year as SPX has been held in Montgomery County, Maryland since the first Small Press Expo in 1994. This new program is an outright gift of graphic novels to MCPL as selected by an MCPL Collection Specialist, who selected 15 titles, comprising 230 individual books to distribute to 20 MCPL branches.
"Montgomery County Public Libraries is pleased to be the first recipient of the new Small Press Expo Library Gift Program.  This is an example of how local businesses can support our libraries during these difficult economic times," said Parker Hamilton, MCPL director.

On September 6 at 11am the press is invited to a formal presentation of the books to Parker Hamilton the MCPL Director by Small Press Expo Executive Director Warren Bernard. The event will be held at the the Rockville Memorial Library located at 21 Maryland Avenue Rockville, Maryland 20850.

This new program by SPX 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 new 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.

The illustrator and author Lilli Carre designed a special bookplate that will be placed on 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 will be held Saturday, September 10 from 11am-7pm and Sunday, September 11, 12-6pm at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

For further information on the Small Press Expo Library Gift Program, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.

For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.


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