Here are the program details for the upcoming July 20-23 Comics Conference for Educators and Librarians taking place at the San Diego Central Library during Comic-Con. All the programs will take place in the 9^th floor Shiley Special Events Suite of the San Diego Central Library. For more information please visit http://comics4schoolsandlibraries.bpt.me

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

4:00–6:00 Teaching with Comics: An Interactive Workshop for Educators—Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools), Antero Garcia (Colorado State University) and Susan Kirtley (Portland State University) lead this hands on workshop integrating comic books in your K-12 classrooms. Open to teachers of all subjects, this session includes awesome interactive activities, approaches for aligning comic books within curriculum, and resources for you to use. Current classroom educators Samantha Diego, James Kelley and Jenn Anya Prosser will spotlight specific ways they address the learning needs of students in their classrooms. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

THURSDAY, JULY 21

11:00–12:00 Free Comic Book Day in the Library—How to run your own FCBD event in a library! This panel will cover the ins and outs of ordering FCBD books, discuss partnering with local stores, offer suggestions for programming and promotion, and discuss how to run this event on a shoestring budget. Free Comic Book Day is an international celebration of comics that has been happening on the first Saturday in May since 2002. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

12:00–1:00 Comics Are Literacy, Too—A discussion of tools librarians and educators can use to help overcome resistance to comics in schools, and how to use manga and comics for adult literacy and English language learner programs. Also, explore the wide range of comic genres, get tips for matching readers with comics and come away with recommendations to satisfy a diversity of interests and reading levels. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

2:00–3:00 Graphic Novel Collection Development—Not sure how to create or expand your graphic novel collection? No problem! This panel will give you resources on how to evaluate comics for your collections, suggestions for how to increase the diversity of your collection, ideas on how to expand into multiple categories, tips for weeding your collection, and the confidence to navigate the many types of comics that are out there! Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

3:00–4:30 How to Host a Library Comic Con—Many libraries are creating their own comic conventions and festivals. This panel will provide you with all the tools you need to do the same! The panel will discuss organization, partnerships, budgets, programming, and how to bring comic creators into your library. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

4:30–6:00 Making Comics in the Library—Everything you need to know in order to run your own comic creation workshops! The panel will also provide tips and tricks for having comic book creators teach classes in the library, and discuss which computer programs and technology you can make available to patrons to help them make comics. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

FRIDAY, JULY 22

11:00–12:00 Events/Community Relationships for Comics and Librarians—Sven Larrson (VP of marketing, Papercutz), Betsy Gomez (editorial director, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund) and Lizette Serrano (director of library and educational marketing, Scholastic) explain how librarians can build programming to foster a love of graphic novels in their communities in a Q&A session moderated by Dawn Rutherford (teen services coordinator, Sno-Isle Libraries).  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

12:00–1:00 Censorship of Kids Comics—Censorship is affecting more comics than ever, especially comics made for young people. Recent months have seen attacks on award-winning books like This One Summer and Drama, as well as increased targeting of books by and about diversity. CBLDF editorial director Betsy Gomez leads a discussion with Gina Gagliano (First Second) and Carla Riemer (librarian, Claremont Middle School, Oakland, California) about what books are challenged, who's affected, and what you can do stop the spread of censorship.  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

1:00–2:00 Kids Comics in 2026—Terry Nantier (CEO, Papercutz), Ed Messesa (acquisitions manager, Graphix, Scholastic Book Fairs), Susan Van Metre (editor-in-chief, Abrams), and Mark Siegel (editorial director, First Second Books, Macmillan) predict the future of children’s comics and graphic novels and their aspirations for the next 10 years. This is a Q&A session moderated by Candice Mack (senior librarian, LA Public Library).  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

2:00–3:00 How Comics Are Created—Comic creators, Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series), Stuart Moore (Egos, Zodiac Legacy), Gene Luen Yang (Secret Coders, Boxers & Saints) and Ru Xu (NewsPrints, Saint for Rent) explain their process, demystifying comics creation for librarians. This is a Q&A session moderated by Jack Baur (supervising librarian, Berkeley Public Library).  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

3:00–4:00 Trends in Kids Graphic Novels—Younger readers are one of the fastest growing comics audiences, so which books are bringing in these readers? This panel takes a look at trends in the kids graphic novel category with top industry experts Charles Kochman (Abrams ComicArts), Filip Sablik (BOOM! Studios) and other decision makers. Moderated by Brigid Alverson (Robot 6).  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

4:00–5:00 Expanding Diversity in Kids Comics—Telling better stories builds a better world and comics are striving to create a more diverse culture of creativity for an increasingly varied audience. Gina Gagliano (First Second), Robin Herrera (Oni Press) and Sierra Hahn (Boom! Studios) talk about what comics are doing to create a more diverse culture of material to serve the diversity of our readership. Moderated by Candice Mack (president, Young Adult Library Services Association).  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

5:00–6:00 State of the Kids Graphic Novel Industry—How are kids graphic novels growing, and what does the future hold for this dynamic segment of the comics medium? Join executives Mark Siegel (First Second), David Saylor (Scholastic), Greg Goldstein (IDW Publishing) and Terry Nantier (Papercutz), and moderator Calvin Reid for this robust discussion of a growing market.  Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

SATURDAY, JULY 23

10:00–11:00 Once Upon a Time: Teaching Fables, Fairy Tales, and Myths with Comics and Graphic Novels—From around the world and across the centuries come stories that have been passed down, retold, translated, adapted, and studied for generations. Bring fairy tales, fables, folktales, legends, myths, and tall tales into your classroom with comic and graphic novel adaptations that bring these tales to life and provide depth and complexity in the interplay between text and image and in the creators' imaginative retellings. Featuring creators Chris Duffy (editor of Fable Comics, Fairy Tale Comics, Nursery Rhyme Comics, and the SpongeBob Comics series), Alexis Fajardo (Kid Beowulf), Ben Hatke (Mighty Jack), Kel McDonald (Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales), and Trina Robbins (Pretty in Ink, Wonder Woman), with moderator Tracy Edmunds, M.A.Ed. (Graphic Novels are Elementary!). Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

11:00–12:00 Teaching History with Graphic Novels—From the Revolutionary War to current events, graphic novels pull readers into history. Comics have been shown to improve reader engagement while enhancing both comprehension and retention. And with the new emphasis on reading nonfiction, academic vocabulary, and reading in the subject areas, comics are more relevant than ever. Join educational experts and creators as they present the best in comics and graphic novels for teaching history and social studies. Featuring Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales), Jonathan Hennessey (The U.S. Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation, The Comic Book Story of Video Games), Tim Smyth (high school history teacher), Illya Kowalchuk, M.Ed. (Pop Culture Classroom), Amy Chu (Publisher, Alpha Girl Comics) and moderator Tom Racine (Tall Tale Radio). Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

12:00–1:00 Game On: Teach Students to Create Content-Themed Games—Illya Kowalchuk (director of education for Pop Culture Classroom), Adam Kullberg (PCC’s education program manager) and Layman Kingsford (Elf Quest Adventure Game, HouseBoy, Dog Walker) will discuss how teachers can use game design to enhance content retention, as well as strengthen literacy, art, critical thinking, problem-solving, research and cooperation skills. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

1:00–2:00 Teaching STEM with Comics—Bring a one-two punch to teaching STEM: text and images teaming up in comics! Comics have been shown to improve reader engagement while enhancing both comprehension and retention. And with the new emphasis on reading nonfiction, academic vocabulary, and reading in the subject areas, comics are more relevant than ever. Join education experts and creators as they present the best in comics and graphic novels for teaching science, technology, engineering and math. Paige Braddock (Stinky Cecil, creative director Schulz Studio), Jim McClain (Solution Squad), Betsy Gomez (CBLDF), Jen Aprahamian (CTO of VINA), Mairghread Scott (writer, Transformers: Till All Are One, Guardians of the Galaxy), Rebecca Thompson, PhD (head of public outreach, American Physical Society) and moderator Tracy Edmunds, M.A.Ed. (Graphic Novels are Elementary!). Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

2:00–3:00 Solution Squad: Teaching Math Through Comics—Veteran teacher Jim McClain presents Solution Squad, an all-ages comic featuring superheroes with powers and names based on math concepts. There is math embedded in every single page of the 32-page comic book. This workshop will take you through Solution Squad #1 step-by-step; showing how the digitally projectable and print comics can be used for direct instruction, as mnemonics for vocabulary and as springboards for deeper mathematical conversations and explorations that will stick with students throughout their entire school careers. Solution Squad makes math fun! Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

3:00–4:00 Nerd and Geek Culture in High Schools: Graphic Novels, Gamification, and Gamer’s Guilds—Nerd and geek culture has come into the mainstream. Most people accept it and many who were previously uncomfortable with their nerdy tendencies are not ashamed any more. With this wide acceptance, we are now able to objectively study the practical values of nerd culture. Join Caitlyn Zaksheske (Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grant 2015 winner, head librarian, Yuma High School), Matthew Zaksheske (Psychology and Sociology teacher, Gila Ridge High School), Neil Peters (English teacher, Cibola High School) and moderator John Shableski (VP of sales UDON Entertainment/special projects Will & Ann Family Eisner Foundation) for this exciting discussion on how the field of education can apply the values of nerd and geek culture to aid not only in the classroom, but in the library, and in extracurricular activities. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

4:00–5:00 The Nerd in the Classroom: Comics as an Educational Tool—Education's all-things nerd networking resource returns to Comic-Con. This year’s edition will have a focus on student-generated comics, with an emphasis on autobiographical and memoir narratives. Learn from experts Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics), Randy Duncan (The Power of Comics: History, Form and Culture), Michael Ray Taylor (Creating Comics as Journalism, Memoir and Nonfiction) and Patrick Murphy (Fremont High/Weber State University). Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

5:00–6:00 geekEd VI: College and the Nerd Brain—Come learn how to take your fandom with you to college, and how to find your tribe once you’re there. And find out if “Quirk Theory” can give you insight into why someone who has been marginalized in high school, thrives once they reach college. A panel of educators from across the country shows you how they make geek communities on college campuses. Brian MacDonald (UCLA), Alfred Day (UC Berkeley), Kamil Oshundara (UCLA), Rod Santos (UC Berkeley), Geralyn Williams (University of San Diego) and Emily Sandoval (USC) will show you how to enhance the geek college experience. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library