10 Ways to Promote Your Graphic Novel at ALA

If you’re publishing a graphic novel aimed at kids, going to ALA is arguably much more important than attending a comics event like San Diego Comic-con. All the most influential librarians in the country attend ALA, and they are the “S-tier” of book buyers in the children’s book world.

“ALA” is the commonly used abbreviation for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference, usually held in late June. ALA is a massive event that attracts about 25,000 attendees, including public librarians, school librarians, publishers, agents, authors and illustrators, and other librarians and vendors of every sort.

ALA Annual show floor, Photo Credits: Janna Morishima, EPNAC.com/American Library Association, Janna Morishima

Promoting your graphic novel at ALA — and even better, connecting in person with librarians there — could be one of your most effective marketing activities.

A large library district like NYPL, Maricopa County Library District, or LA Public Library might order hundreds or even thousands of a popular title. And even if your book isn’t a bestseller, libraries are still likely to order more copies than your local bookstore or comic shop (if it’s a middle grade graphic novel, for example).

However, if you’ve ever been to a huge conference like ALA, you know that it can be easy to get overwhelmed and feel like a tiny minnow in a huge sea. How do you stand out amongst all the other publishers and creators promoting their books?

There are actually many ways to “find your people” at the show. Below are 10 ways to do it (and probably make new friends at the same time!):

1. Apply for a FREE Table at ALA Artist Alley

Yes, ALA has an Artist Alley in the main Exhibit Hall. And yes, it is free!

You have to apply to get a table. Submissions usually open in the beginning of the year (February-March or so).

If you offer author visits to schools and libraries, make sure you have giveaway postcards or flyers promoting this!

Check this page to get more information about ALA’s Artist Alley.

Katie Risor talking to a librarian fan at her Artist Alley table. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

Jannie Ho’s table at Artist Alley — notice her “Author Visits with Jannie Ho” postcards! Photo credit: Janna Morishima

Kirk Reedstrom’s table at Artist Alley — notice the many giveaways! Photo credit: Janna Morishima

2. Join the Zine Pavilion

If you were surprised that ALA has an Artist Alley, guess what — they also have a Zine Pavilion!

The Zine Pavilion is put together by an informal group of librarians from the US and Canada. It’s a dedicated space on the conference floor dedicated to zines. It includes hundreds of donated zines as well as zinesters from the local community (and from afar) who sell their own work. 

To get in touch with the organizers, follow them on social media @ZinePavilion or email them at zinepavilion at gmail dot com.

The Zine Pavilion at ALA 2025. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

Self-published creators Victor Santiago and Markk JC’s work on display at ALA’s Zine Pavilion. Find them at comixclubhouse.com. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

3. Submit Your Book for Awards

ALA sponsors many book awards, from the Caldecott and Newbery to the Geisel Award for beginning readers and Alex Award for “adult books that have special appeal for teens.” Graphic novels are eligible for many of these book awards. Find out more about ALA awards here.

There are also graphic novel-specific awards, like the Best Graphic Novels for Children and Great Graphic Novels for Teens lists.

Finally, there’s the brand new Outstanding Comic for Children, Teens, and Adults award offered by ALA’s Graphic Novel and Comics Roundtable (GNCRT) committee. The inaugural Outstanding Comics Awards will be given in 2026! See the FAQs to get the full details.

While at the PW Comics After Hours event, a librarian shows me information about the Outstanding Comics Awards. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

4. Submit a Panel or Program Proposal

ALA usually starts accepting educational program proposals for the upcoming conference about 10 months in advance of the show. The submission window is usually only about one month long, so be prepared! This pdf contains information about the ALA program submission process.

Keep in mind that the audience for panels consists of librarians, so your panel proposal must be highly relevant to them. Your chance of getting a proposal accepted might be higher if you collaborate with a librarian.

5. Coordinate with Your Publisher for an Author Signing

If you work with a traditional publisher and you’re going to have an Artist Alley table, join the Zine Pavilion, or even just visit the exhibit hall, make sure you tell your publisher in advance! They may be able to organize a signing for you at their booth.

Illustrator Jannie Ho and author Eric Geron sign books at the Andrews McMeel booth. (You can’t see it, but the line stretched around the corner!) Photo credit: Janna Morishima

Librarian Donna Bray snaps a photo of illustrator London Ladd and author Nadia Salomon at PRH’s booth. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

Consider doing something creative with your book signing. Author Brian Gonsar’s book Dracula’s Brunch Club is about a vampire with a knack for baking. So Oni Press organized his signing for 9 am on Sunday morning… with free donuts! He had a very long line of hungry librarians at his signing.

A packed signing for Brian Gonsar at Oni Press’s booth on Sunday morning. You can see a tiny sliver of donuts in the back right corner. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

6. Pitch Your Book at the GNCRT Magical Comics Tea

The GNCRT (Graphic Novel and Comics Roundtable) Magical Comics Tea is one of ALA’s most popular events with children’s and teen librarians. It’s basically a ticketed speed-dating event between graphic novel author-illustrators and librarians. Refreshments are served as creators pitch their upcoming book to a rotating group of librarians. The atmosphere feels a bit like a comics-focused Ring-Around-the-Rosie game.

Unfortunately, individual creators can’t sign up for this event. Publishers usually pick a few lead titles to showcase, and invite their creators. If you have an upcoming book with a traditional publisher, ask if your book can be pitched for the GNCRT Tea.

GNCRT’s Instagram post promoting the Magical Comics Tea.

7. Sign up for a Booth at the Show

Individual and/or self-published authors and micro presses are able to sign up for a table. The cost is currently $1500 for a 6′ display space. If you have the budget for it, you can take advantage of this opportunity.

Just make sure you do as much as you can to attract librarians to your table. You’re competing with a TON of other exhibitors.

So reaching out in advance of the show and inviting librarians to visit you is a good idea. You might also offer a raffle or free refreshments at certain times during the show. Put yourself in the librarians’ shoes and ask yourself what you could do that would entice them to visit you.

8. Be Creative with Giveaways

There’s so much to see and do at ALA that often times, people are just stopping by your booth for a brief period. They frequently want a simple giveaway that they can throw into their bag and review when they get back home:

“Oh yeah, I met that author and really liked them. I want to make sure to order their book and maybe invite them to do a workshop at my library.”

The best giveaways are nicely designed, offer clear value, and feel fun. You can’t go wrong with the classics: business cards, postcards, and bookmarks.

On the left, Duck and Moose postcards from creator Kirk Reedstrom (notice the offer of downloads and author visit info on his website!), and on the right, “Teacher Tip Cards” at the Candlewick booth at ALA 2025. Photo credit: Janna Morishima

But you can also get more creative and offer activity sheets, event kits, stickers, pins, minicomics, or whatever else makes sense for you.

On the left, Yen Press “Helpful Manga Terms” handout. On the right free postcards, stickers, and buttons at the Zine Pavilion, photo credit: Janna Morishima

Casey’s Cases fill-in-the-blank mini comic handout by Kay Healy at the Holiday House booth, photo credit: Janna Morishima

The Weirn Books event kit and From Memen to Mori crayon boxes and stickers at the Yen Press booth, photo credit: Janna Morishima

9. Have Fun and Connect with People

One of the best ways to promote your work is simply to make friends! I’m not saying that you have to be a master of “strategic networking” — I’m saying that if you relax, chat with strangers, and accept some invitations to meetups, you’ll probably meet some cool people who might gradually become friends.

(If you’re displaying your work at Artist Alley or the Zine Pavilion, make sure you have a mailing list signup form so people can give you their email addresses if they want you to keep in touch with them!)

There is nothing that will turbocharge your career more than if you have a web of people in different corners of the industry cheering you on and spreading the word about your work.

New friends Betsy Gomez from ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and comics writer Amy Chu at PW’s Comics After Hours event, photo credit: Janna Morishima

One piece of advice I’d add: if you’re considering promoting your work at a show and have the time and budget, try attending it the year before… just for fun.

It’s incredibly valuable to explore the event without the pressure of exhibiting—take photos of booths and displays that inspire you, chat with other creators, and gather tips on how to make the most of it when you do participate officially.

10. Use the ALA Website for Research

If you can’t attend the show in person, there is still another powerful way you can take advantage of ALA to help get the word out about your book: use the website for research.

The ALA site is a gold mine of information. All the members of every ALA committee, roundtable, award, and program are listed on it.

Find all the listings that are relevant to you and make a spreadsheet listing the librarians who might be interested in your work. You’ll probably have to do a bit of extra sleuthing to get their contact info, but starting with a list of names of the most influential and engaged librarians in your niche is already huge.

Summing Up

Promoting your graphic novel at ALA doesn’t require a big budget or already being a bestseller—it just takes thoughtfulness, creativity, and a willingness to connect.

Remember: librarians are passionate advocates for books they believe in. If you show up with sincerity and a clear sense of your audience, they’ll notice you—and they just might help your book find its way into the hands of many more young readers.

Are you excited to try any of these strategies? Do you have more questions about any of them?

Let us know in the comments below!