Background• Born in 2013 & inspired by Lucca Comic & Games

• WCL developed Comic Gong to:- promote our Graphic Novel collection- foster Community Engagement- increase exposure of our library brand- provide a free, Youth-focused event

Previous Events• Project team of 10 staff spent 6 months on

CG2013• 2013: 4 hours; 1301 people attended• 2014: 6 hours; 4000 people attended• 2015: 6 hours; 5800 people attended

Staffing and Planning• 12 months planning • Collaboration: Library, Art Gallery, Youth

Services• Layers of staff: Comic Gong team; Library, Art

Gallery & Youth Services staff; Council staff; TAFE & other volunteers

WE LOVE PATHWAY!!!

STATisfaction Guaranteed

What’s our budget?$38,000

CollectionsGrown from 1 collection to 3!

Youth grown by more than 58%Junior grown by more than 40%Adult grown by more than 82%

MembershipIncreased since

2013!49% overall40% Youth

23% increase in graphic

novel loans

Steady increase in turnover since 2013: 3.5 to 4.3 Increased participation in Youth

programs: almost 45% since 2013.Caveat: includes an increase in Youth

focused events

Readers’ Advice• Studies show graphic novels to be bridges to learning• Expanded access to content – reluctance to read

classics for example• Raised awareness of library services within the target

group & community in general• All types of pop culture represented

More Readers’ Advice• Attracting members from a demographic we traditionally have

trouble engaging• Readers’ Advice reversed – we’re learning from the customers• Youth club input – ownership of the collection• Specialist supplier• Selection profiles & series lists constantly updated to remain

relevant• Library as place

SOCIAL MEDIA• All we’ve got is our facebook page!!!

• Facebook is our main source of communication with the public, & one of the ways we keep in touch with our exhibitors

SOCIAL MEDIA

THE EVENT• First & best library-based pop culture event• Sparked a range of events run by libraries & community-based

organisations• 2013 MAPLs award – Events category• Kings Comics won a Diamond Comics Best Practices Award at

NYC COMIC CON for their involvement in our event• Libraries have the edge: we are not commercial!

THE DAY• 63 Exhibitors – Artists & Traders• 76 tables• Cosplay competitions & parade• Workshops – all ages; different skills

THE DAY – ACTIVITIES!• Batman & Batbike• Back to the Future DeLorean• Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrestling• Sons of ObiWan Saber Academy• Circus Wow• Roaming musicians & street

performers• Project Bucephalus – Lego & robots

• Face painting• Kid’s craft• Caricaturists• Air brush tattooing• Photo booth & green screen• Badge making• Anime screenings• Gaming• ModFab - 3D printers• Pinball machines

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?• 2017 date is already set – 13 May!!!• Do we remain a library event? Pros & Cons…• We are continuing to explore…• Stronger social media presence• New Library structure that includes an Events Librarian

13 May 2017

it’s on likecomic gong

Saturday 14 may 2016

comicgong@wollongong.nsw.gov.au