Extension and Technical Services Manager Andrea Legg accepts 2018 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant on behalf of the Tuscarawas County Public Libray System from Carl and Nancy Gropper of the Will Eisner Family Foundation. (Submitted photo)

New Philadelphia, Ohio - The Tuscarawas County Public Library System is the proud recipient of the 2018 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant. 

The grant provides support to a library for initiation of a graphic novel service, program, or initiative, and is named in honor of the man known as the father of the graphic novel whose characters include Mr. Mystic, The Spirit, Blackhawk and many more. 

Extension and Technical Services Manager and grant writer Andrea Legg says the grant funds will be used for a project titled IllustrateHER that seeks to empower girls through visual storytelling and multimodal reading. 

Legg says part of the grant money will be used by the library system to obtain 25 new graphic novel titles that are either written by accomplished female graphic novelists or focus on a strong female protagonist as the central character. 

Titles selected by the library system include El Deafo by Cece Bell, Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier, Spinning by Tillie Walden, Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson and many more.

The new titles will start appearing in the Tuscarawas County Public Library System’s five locations this fall. 

Legg notes that the library will also be bringing in accomplished graphic novelist Meags Fitzgerald as part of the grant requirements. 

Fitzgerald is a Montreal-based artist and an award-winning illustrator, graphic novelist, and stop-motion animator. She will conduct a unique workshop for teens interested in the art of graphic novel illustration on Tuesday, October 16, at 4 p.m.

For more information or to register for the program, call 330-364-4474 ext. 101 or visit www.tusclibrary.org. The Main Library is located at 121 Fair Ave. NW in New Philadelphia.

Tuscarawas County Public Library System