By David Townsend
Library
Communications CoordinatorNorth Idaho’s libraries are urging area residents to read “Fahrenheit 451” by the late Ray Bradbury and to join the conversation during a series of film screenings and programs for North Idaho Reads (NIR) kicking off the week of Sept. 23.
Bradbury, one of the most celebrated science fiction writers of our time, died this year on June 5 at age 91. In “F451” he describes a world where information technology has evolved to the point where books and the written word are no longer valued and are, in fact, burned along with the building that contains them.
North Idaho Reads activities include an overview discussion of the book by Idaho Humanities Council speaker David Adler. The NIR Film Festival will include screenings of the 1966 film “Fahrenheit 451.” Other films examining dystopian future worlds will be shown in the following weeks at several North Idaho libraries. See a full schedule at NorthIdahoReads.org.
The discussion will continue during Banned Books Week, Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 and during Teen Read Week, Oct. 14-20. Futurist David Brin, author of the recently released novel, “Existence,” will do a virtual presentation via an Internet link at several libraries on Oct. 25.
Activities will wrap up with a ticketed concert and dance at the Jacklin Arts and Culture Center in Post Falls on Oct. 27. The “Banned Music” Concert and costume party will feature the music of “The Hitmen.”
At least two, area book clubs will be discussing “F451.” The Pageturners Book Club, meeting at the Coeur d’Alene library, will discuss it on Sept. 26, with the discussion led by David Townsend. Virginia Johnson will lead a discussion with the 3Cs Book Club on Oct. 17.
Participating libraries include the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, The Community Library Network, the East Bonner County Library District, and the West Bonner Library District.
Funding for NIR is provided by the Idaho Humanities Council as part of the “We the People Initiative” of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding has been provided by Friends of the Library groups at each of the participating libraries. Community partners for the program include the Coeur d’Alene Press and the Jacklin Arts and Culture Center. More information about NIR can be found at the group’s Facebook page, facebook.com/NorthIdahoReads.
