Cosplay in Libraries: How to Embrace Costume Play in Your Library by Ellyssa Kroski. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015. 978-1-4422-5648-4.
Publisher's Description
Cosplay, comics, anime, and geek culture have exploded into the mainstream over recent years and have resulted in a thriving community of costume enthusiasts and pop culture fans. Today’s cosplayers find inspiration on the pages of comics, classic literature, and even history, as well as film, television, and video games to inform their creative and oftentimes elaborate ensembles. They utilize all manner of materials and techniques including 3D printers, thermoplastics, craft foam, fabric and more to design their costumes and props.Libraries on the leading edge are already embracing this new worldwide sensation by integrating cosplay into their programming and events. Learn all about the world of cosplay and how you can host cosplay events, workshops, makerspaces, clubs, and more in your library!
This one-stop guide includes quotes and interviews with librarians who are incorporating cosplay into their programming as well as with cosplayers. You’ll also find 32 full-color photographs of cosplay in action to give you both ideas and inspiration for getting started!
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Chapter One: What is Cosplay?
- Chapter Two: Getting Started: Tools of the Trade
- Chapter Three: Places to Go, People to See
- Chapter Four: Cosfamous
- Chapter Five: Libraries Embracing Cosplay
- Chapter Six: Cosplay Programming for Libraries
- Project 1: Host a Comic or Anime Con in your Library!
- Project 2: How to Host a Cosplay Contest
- Project 3: How to Form a Cosplay Club in Your Library
- Project 4: How to Host a Cosplay Props 3D Printing Event
- Project 5: How to Host a Create Your Own Armor with Worbla Event
- Project 6: How to Host an Armor Painting Event
- Project 7: Budget Cosplay Event: How to Create an Infinity Gauntlet with Craft Foam
- Project 8: Budget Cosplay Event: How to Create Cardboard Superhero Helmets
- Project 9: Budget Cosplay Event: How to Create Papier Mache Minions
- Project 10: How to Host a Cosplay Cards Workshop
- Project 11: Host a Cosplay Web Presence Workshop
- Project 12: Plan a Themed Cosplay Lock-In
- Chapter Seven: Cosplay Issues, Tips, and Tricks
- Chapter Eight: Must-Have Cosplay Resources
- Appendix A: Cosplay Event Activities
- Appendix B: Suppliers Directory
- Appendix C: Cosplayers Directory
- Appendix D: Photographers Directory
- Appendix E: Cosplay Websites & Blogs Directory
About the Author
Ellyssa Kroski is the Director of Information Technology at the New York Law Institute as well as an award-winning editor and author of 34 books including Law Librarianship in the Digital Age for which she won the AALL's 2014 Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award. Her ten-book technology series, The Tech Set won the ALA's Best Book in Library Literature Award in 2011. She is a librarian, an adjunct faculty member at Pratt Institute, and an international conference speaker. She blogs at Cosplay, Comics, and Geek Culture in Libraries. Her professional portfolio is located at: http://www.ellyssakroski.com
Ellyssa is also an avid cosplayer and has appeared on TLC's Cake Boss TV show as well as in the official music video for New York Comic Con and many other events. Her cosplay portfolio can be found at http://giallogirl.com. Contact her at ellyssakroski@yahoo.com.
