The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation held the first Will Eisner Graphic Novel Prize for Libraries event at the American Library Association conference in Anaheim, California, from June 21-26. The prize, also sponsored by Brodart, awarded over $5,000 worth of books and prizes to each library, including titles nominated for the 2012 Eisner Awards, the Will Eisner Library Catalog (totaling over 150 books), a $2,000 voucher for the purchase of more graphic novels through Brodart Co., and an additional $1,000 for a graphic novel creator visit or comics-themed event. The winners of the prize were library services student Dylan Flesch, retired librarian Viola Dyas, and Jack Baur, teen services librarian from Berkeley Public Library. Flesch will donate his prizes to his local library in Seattle, while Dyas will give hers to the Alameda County Juvenile Hall in San Leandro, California. Read the entire press release for the event here.

(left to right: John Shableski, Brodart's Jennifer Ruth, the Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation's Carl and Nancy Gropper, Viola Dyas, and Jack Baur (Dylan Flesch not pictured)