91´«Ã½

The 91´«Ã½’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation are pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries. These grants, funded by the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation, are administered by 91´«Ã½'s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT).

The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries consists of three annual grants given in two categories: two Growth Grants and one Innovation Grant. The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grants provide support to libraries that would like to expand their existing graphic novel services and programs. The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant provides support to a library to initiate a graphic novel service, program, or initiative.

The 2022 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grants are awarded to:

• Jenna Harte-Wisniewski and Mary Black of Evergreen Park Public Library in Evergreen Park, IL. ─ Their project “Growing Multicultural Awareness Through Visual Literature” will expand their existing graphic novel collection to include more titles from authors of diverse backgrounds and in turn build a greater cultural awareness and foster a better community and improve upon their Free Comic Book Day celebrations, including plans for launching an annual community comic strip.
• Erick Dominicus, Victor Calderin, Teresa Cusidor, Isabel Duque, Dennis Edelen, Adrian Legaspi, Christina Machado-Dillon, Jenny Saxton and the MDC Graphic Novel Interest Group of Miami Dade College in Miami, FL. ─Their project “Mirror, Mirror: Seeing Ourselves in Graphic Novels” focuses on the idea that discussing and creating sequential art with a focus on body image may help their diverse population of students cope with racism, sexism, ableism, and other societal pressures.

The 2022 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant is presented to:

• Alexander Desourdy and Bryan Rowzee of RCS Community Library in Revena, NY ─ Their project “Drawing a Focus on Justice” is a collaboration with the Coxsackie Correctional Facility Library and aims to bring graphic novel collections and programming resources to both their populations.

Each of these grants awards the winning libraries with $2,000 in collection development funds for the purchase of graphic novels, as well as $1,000 to host a graphic novel-themed event. Additionally, the recipients will receive the Will Eisner Library—a graphic novel collection of Will Eisner’s in-print work and biographies about the acclaimed writer and artist—and a selection of this year’s Will Eisner Award winning graphic novels along with a $1,000 travel stipend to attend the 2022 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The grant recipients will be celebrated at 91´«Ã½ Annual during the on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 9am.

Nancy and Carl Gropper of the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation said, “Our heartiest congratulations to this year’s grant recipients. Their proposed programs are creative and unique, diverse and inclusive. We know Will Eisner would be so pleased with their imaginative, insightful work. Their innovative ideas reflect the spirit of Will Eisner’s wish to promote the potential and value of the sequential art medium as literature. Congratulations! Our appreciation to all who participated in this year’s competition. We are grateful for the work librarians accomplish each day, and for their unwavering dedication to the patrons and communities they serve in the midst of very challenging times. Thank you.”

William Jacobs, chair of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries juries said, “This year’s winners highlight the versatility of comics as a communication tool. The three have widely divergent focuses, from multiculturalism to incarceration to body image, but all aim to create connections in their communities in the unique way only comics can.”

More information on the grants and the application process can be found at

About The Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation

The Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation fosters innovation and creativity in graphic literature, sequential art and comics. It encourages others to continue and build upon the legacy of Will Eisner, who broke new ground in the development of visual narrative and the language of comics. Will Eisner is best known for being the creator of The Spirit comic, for developing comics for education and training, and for writing the first modern graphic novel. For more information about Will Eisner visit.

About the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table

The Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table of the 91´«Ã½ is dedicated to supporting library staff in all aspects of engaging with graphic novels and comics, including collection development, programming, and advocacy. For more information connect with GNCRT on Facebook: 91´«Ã½ Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table; Twitter: @libcomix; Instagram: @libcomix; or the GNCRT 91´«Ã½ Connect page.

About 91´«Ã½

Established in 1876, the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization created to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

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