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Elbow Lake library wants patrons to be inspired
Published 12:00 p.m., January 19, 2009
“Be Inspired” is the theme of the adult reading and film series for the next 15 months at Elbow Lake’s Thorson Memorial Library. In light of economic woes and other negative news, library staff members and volunteers want to stress the positive.
“We want people to be inspired to overcome senses of fear, hopelessness, depression and overwhelming feelings,” said Library Director Gail Hedstrom. “Through literature, film and discussions, we can encourage more openness, more compassion and more loving — to make it through a difficult life experience with less suffering.”
Library Assistant Susan Sanford is the facilitator and primary creator of the series.
Since its inception in 2006, one of the primary goals of the adult series is to support and improve literacy in Grant County by stretching readers and viewers beyond their normal genres, subject matters and levels of difficulty.
With that in mind, the staff, which also includes library assistant Pat Anderson, selects books and films that may be somewhat out of the mainstream and challenge viewers in new ways.
The series will begin with a discussion of “Three Cups of Tea, One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations One School at a Time” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin on Jan. 27.
Mortenson was on the CBS Sunday Morning Show on Jan. 4 and was featured in December’s issue of “Outside Magazine.”
The companion film to this book, “Pay It Forward,” starring Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, will be shown on Feb. 3.
“Extremely positive reports from readers are already filtering back to the library,” said library assistant Sanford.
The next book in the series, “A Hope in the Unseen, an American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League,” is written by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ron Suskind. The New York Times Book Review calls it “an extraordinary, formula-shattering book.”
The companion film is “The Pursuit of Happyness,” starring Will Smith.
In March the group will discuss “The Last Week, a Day-by-Day Account of Jesus’ Final Week in Jerusalem” by theologians Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The discussion will be followed by the 1973 musical film, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
April’s selections are “Banker to the Poor: Microlending and the Battle Against World Poverty” by Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Muhammad Yunus, and the film, “Gandhi,” starring Ben Kingsley.
The next book in the series is “Acts of Faith, The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation” by Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core. The film that follows is “Seven Years in Tibet” starring Brad Pitt.
The sixth in the series is “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles” by Marianne Williamson and the film “Peaceful Warrior.”
“While some patrons choose to read, watch and discuss everything in the series, individuals are welcome to attend any of the book discussions,” Sanford said, “or film showings that they feel inspired to attend.”
People can contact the library for the list of selections through March of 2010. The book discussions are held on the fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m. and the films are shown on the first Tuesdays of the month, also at 7 p.m.
Those interested in participating in any or all of the series can visit the library’s website at www.alexweb.net/library.
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