The price of admission to Comic Con events is typically very high making it very difficult for teenagers to attend. We designed our Con to make these types of events more accessible. We widened this year’s convention to all ages making it open to children and their families, as well as adult patrons, to increase the accessibility of the event. Teens remained an integral part of the planning and implementation of the program.

Free Library of Comic Con positions the library at the heart of the shared subcultures that coalesce around comics. In the planning and implementation of the event, we pulled in a wider base of patrons. Utilizing the appeal of Comic Con, patrons become aware of other ways they can make use of their library. We see this especially in terms of our teenaged patrons who are excited to be able to participate in events.

Free Library of Comic Con is Teen Central’s most successful program, pulling in a larger crowd each year. Over 300 attended this year. Additionally, we have achieved success in terms of providing an accessible event to our patrons who might not be able to attend larger commercial cons. We are introducing new patrons to services that the library provides. For example, circulation of graphic novels during the time has greatly increased.