Lenox Library, Indie Lens Pop-Up Present Free for All: The Public Library

Print Story | Email Story

LENOX, Mass.— On Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 5:00 p.m., Lenox Library and Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS, will host an event featuring a shortened, preview version of "Free for All: The Public Library" followed by a panel discussion.

"Free for All: The Public Library" tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all. The free screening will take place at the Library, 18 Main Street, Lenox.

According to a press release:

The public library is one of America's most valued yet endangered institutions. Director Dawn Logsdon travels the United States, discovering historic and modern-day figures, especially women, who contributed to the library's integral position within democracy. "Free for All: The Public Library" chronicles the evolution of the nation's public libraries, tracing the battles over who can enter, what belongs there, and who makes these decisions, while exploring how public commons are defined and defended.

After the screening, Lenox Library Director Katie O'Neil and members of the Library's Board of Trustees will host an engaging and interactive discussion about how public libraries shaped the country and continue to be a sanctuary for Americans everywhere, despite the threats to funding the civic institution has faced in recent years. 

About Indie Lens Pop-Up

Indie Lens Pop-Up is a community series that brings people together for film screenings and conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's INDEPENDENT LENS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most. Learn more at pbs.org/indielenspopup.

About INDEPENDENT LENS 

INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy® Award-winning PBS documentary series. With founding executive producer Lois Vossen, the series has been honored with 10 Academy Award nominations and features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Acton Family Giving, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Park Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Stream anytime on the PBS app. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens.

 

Visit https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page for more information.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Puppeteer Carl Sprague to Present 'Hansel & Gretel' at Ventfort Hall

LENOX, Mass. — The popular puppeteer Carl Sprague will return to Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum in Lenox with "Hansel & Gretel" for two school vacation week marionette performances. 
 
The dates and times are Thursday, Feb. 19 and Friday, Feb. 20, both at 3:30 pm. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet Sprague, who knows how to pull strings.
 
"Hansel & Gretel" is a classic German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm about two siblings abandoned in the woods who find a house made of sweets, owned by a witch intending to eat them. The clever children outsmart her by pushing her into her own oven, and escape with her treasures to find their way home. This fairy tale symbolizes themes of cleverness, survival, and greed vs. kindness, stated a press release.
 
Sprague, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall with his "behind the scenery" mastery, has been a puppeteer since childhood.  He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech marionettes, each about eight inches tall, that were assembled by his great-grandfather, Julius Hybler.  Hybler's legacy also includes two marionette theaters. 
 
Also, Sprague has been a set designer for such motion pictures as "The Royal Tenenbaums" and Scorcese's "The Age of Innocence," as well as for theater productions including those of Shakespeare & Company. 
 
Admission to the show is $20 per person; $10 for children 4-17 and free for age 3 and under. Children must be accompanied by adults. 
 
Reservations are required as seating is limited and can be made on line at https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or by calling (413) 637-3206. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.
View Full Story

More Lenox Stories