Mike Banks of Samurai Comics shared this story of how partnering with the local library system has paid off in a big way:

Here is a great example of having a relationship with your local libraries paying off in a big way.  Samurai Comics has partnered with the Phoenix Public Library system ever since opening our doors.  The library in turn has a partnership with the The Arizona Republic, one of the fastest-growing major metropolitan newspapers in the country, ranks among the top 20 newspapers in daily circulation.  The Republic is the state's largest newspaper, reaching approximately 1.5 million readers per week.

Every year the Republic works with the library to publish excerpts of a children's book in the paper in an effort to promote reading.

Last year we pitched the idea of publishing excerpts of a comic book or graphic novel on the back page of the Sunday funnies.  The idea gained steam, and after several meetings with the library council and the Arizona Republic, Lions, Tigers, and Bears began appearing in the newspaper.

Fast forward to this year -- The LTB run proved so successful that today's Arizona Republic featured the first episode of Oni Press' Hopeless Savages!

The serialization of Hopeless Savages ties into the Phoenix Public Libraries Summer Reading Program -- kids who read books throughout the summer get to choose a prize as they complete a game board based on the number of books they read.  Among the prizes (the most popular prizes, in fact, according the head librarian) are comic books provided by Samurai Comics.

Stores that don't already have a relationship with your local library should pick up the phone and give them a call!  And stores that do, should pitch an idea like the one above to them.  Imagine if more major metropolitan newspapers began serializing comic books on the back page of their Sunday funnies!