Take a look, it's in a book—and on the screen! You are invited to watch a selection of films that depict the importance of literacy, reading and the right to choose what to read. See how reading in the United States has changed in recent memory. For more information, contact the branch at (305) 535-4219 or capleyb@mdpls.org. Ages 14 yrs.+
About the Series:
2026 marks the United States’ semiquincentennial – its 250th birthday! Join us to celebrate the big birthday with a monthly movie showing the people from the past and present that had a hand in creating these United States. Get a monthly cinematic glimpse of what America looks like!
About the Films:
Encourages parents to read with their children from infancy throughout the school years to help children develop language skills, appreciate good literature, and develop creative thinking.
Shows community meetings and presents interviews and commentary of citizens, educators, authors, and others in an examination of the growing censorship movement in America today; includes a partial list of books involved in censorship controversies in schools and libraries.
Directed by Sinead McHugh Keirans, the film follows the story of students at Vandegrift High School in Central Texas. The film has been featured by PEN America and was shown at the 2023 Seattle International Film Festival and the 2023 DOC NYC film festival. For more information about Banned Book Club, visit: https://www.sineadkeirans.com/bannedbookclub
About the Film Collection
The 16mm film collection has been part of the Library's holdings for over 55 years. It began in the 1960s, and its first films were part of the City of Miami’s public library before there was a county library. When MDPLS was formed, the County supplemented its local funding for films with Federal LSCA (Library Services and Construction Act) grants. Apart from leased feature films, all films were purchased for free exhibition for the life of the print. Subjects within the collection include experimental/avant-garde art films, non-narrated films, children’s films, Black history, Floridiana, and local history. Today, there are over 4,000 films within the collection.
About the Division of Special Collections & Archives
Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Division of Special Collections & Archives holds rare and irreplaceable historical documents for the benefit of the public and scholarly community. They oversee the Helen Muir Florida Collection, 16mm Film Collection, Cuban Collection of Rare Books & Ephemera, Genealogy Collection, The Vasari Project, and rare & antiquarian books from as early as the 17th century. The Division's primary goal is to provide the public with the contents of the vault at their request. Its collections include rare books, original manuscripts, over 18,000 photographs, prints, artifacts, audiovisual resources, and electronic media.
AGE GROUP: | Young Adult (12-18) | Older Adults (55+) | Adult (19+) |
EVENT TYPE: | Special Event | Special Collections | Movies | In-Person | History | Education |
TAGS: | Teen | Special Collections | Seniors | Semiquincentennial | Movies | Literacy | In-Person | Education | Community Event | America250 |
| Mon, Feb 16 | Closed |
| Tue, Feb 17 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
| Wed, Feb 18 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
| Thu, Feb 19 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
| Fri, Feb 20 | 9:30AM to 6:00PM |
| Sat, Feb 21 | 9:30AM to 6:00PM |
| Sun, Feb 22 | Closed |