Clifton Forge Public Library Comic Con Inspired by article by two Chesterfield Public Library staff members (We Put On a Comic-Con (And So Can You!) by Kate Denwiddie and Kareemah Hamdan). Workshop presentation at Virginia Library Association by same individuals. Volunteer driven event Low budget requirements Encouraging literacy for adolescents

LITERACY OUTREACH The majority of students are leaving high school without the reading and writing skills needed to succeed in college and a career. Many of the more than 700,000 students who leave U.S. high schools each year without a diploma have low literacy skills. In America today, one in five students fails to graduate from high school on time. The consequences for the individuals and the costs to the nation are staggering in terms of lost wages and earnings over a lifetime, estimated at about $335 billion per year. (Source: Alliance for Excellent Education)

POINT OF CONNECTION The Goal of the Clifton Forge Public Library is to promote adolescent literacy through non-traditional materials such as graphic novels and comic books. Through the ComicCon event, the library will be able to introduce adolescents to the variety of materials that will foster an interest in learning and a desire to read. The ComicCon event will be a launching pad for new outreaches such as a Lego Club and Role Playing Game community.

Event Locations The event will be held at three locations on April 18, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The Clifton Forge Public Library is the primary event organizer and will hold workshops and panel discussions. The Masonic Amphitheater is a co-sponsor and will hold events (such as a costume contest)on the stage of the amphitheater. The Clifton Forge School of the Arts is another co-sponsor and will provide space for vendors, role playing and board games as well as a fantasy art display.

Confirmed Events Cosplay (Costume Contest) Role Playing Games Board games Workshops and Panel Discussions

Confirmed Special Guests Frank Mentzer – legendary figure in role playing games development. He has written several role playing guides. He was part of the team that developed early role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. Steve Long – author of Fantasy Hero - Fantasy Hero discusses and describes the Fantasy genre for gaming, and shows how to create characters, campaigns, spells and magic systems, worlds, and other elements of Fantasy with the HERO System rules.

Works in Progress Recruiting a volunteer force through local school systems and local organizations. Soliciting special give away items from companies such as Marvel. Awaiting participation decisions from Star Wars Fan Group 501 st Legion and Rob Williams (staged battle demonstration). Developing a working relationship with other area public libraries.