The Lawrence Public Library will host a series of film and book discussions in conjunction with the 2008 “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties” Chautauqua.

The educational festival will be from June 18 to 22 under a big-top tent in Lawrence’s South Park.

On the first Tuesday of each month from now until June, the library will host a discussion revolving around the 1930s Chautauqua theme at 7 p.m. in the library’s auditorium. The discussions are free and open to the public.

The first discussion is Tuesday. The book is “All the Kings Men” by Robert Penn Warren. Fred Krebs, Chautauqua scholar, will serve as moderator for this book’s discussion.

On May 6, the novel “Mules and Men” by Zora Neale Hurston, will be discussed. The discussion will be led by Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway.

On June 3rd, the library will provide a screening of “The Grapes of Wrath,” followed by a discussion led by Alan Lubert.

Copies of the two books are available for checkout at the library. Please contact Maria Butler at 843-3833 ext. 123.