Frankfort Library to Host a Frankenstein Community Read

Frankfort Community Public Library has been awarded a Community Read grant of $1,000 from Indiana Humanities to participate in a statewide read of the classic novel “Frankenstein.” More than 60 other communities will be reading the book as part of One State / One Story: Frankenstein.

Frankfort Community Public Library will host at least three community programs tied to the book during 2018, including a book discussion. It will also receive up to 50 books and assorted collateral (bookmarks, posters, etc.) to promote the programs. The $1,000 project funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including to book speakers through a special “Frankenstein” speakers bureau.

Written by teenage Mary Shelley in 1818, “Frankenstein” tells the story of a young scientist who created a grotesque living creature through a scientific experiment and was horrified by what he has made.

“‘Frankenstein’ is a powerful book that raises big questions about right and wrong, how we treat other people and the relationship between science and society,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “That’s what makes it such an important book to read as a community and as a state. We want to catalyze those serious conversations, but we want Hoosiers to have a little fun with the book, too.”

“Our goal of taking part in One State / One Story: Frankenstein is to encourage new & experienced readers alike to make personal connections to this classic novel. Frankenstein contains themes that continue to resonate with humanity; therefore connecting with literature may confirm to a reader that their experiences are not unique help individuals gain a sense of validity.

One State / One Story: Frankenstein kicks off on Saturday, February 17, from 1:00-3:00 with the Monster Bash. Monster Bash is a party open to all ages and will feature several stations. Attendees may pick up a copy of Frankenstein sign up for future activities.

One State / One Story: Frankenstein is an initiative designed by Indiana Humanities, in partnership with the Indiana State Library and Indiana Center for the Book, to encourage Hoosiers to read the classic novel as it turns 200 in 2018. More than a dozen programs—including a digital gaming workshop, a sci-fi and horror writing festival for teens, community reads and read-a-thons, and college and university partnerships—will bring Frankenstein to life all over the state. One State / One Story: Frankenstein has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.IndianaHumanities.org/Frankenstein.

About Frankfort Community Public/Clinton County Contractual Public Library
The Frankfort Community Public Library/Clinton County Contractual Public Library is a place where young readers are created; where people of all ages can satisfy their curiosity, express their creativity, appreciate the arts, stimulate their imagination and connect to the world online. Learn more at www.myfcpl.org.

 About Indiana Humanities
Indiana Humanities connects people, opens minds and enriches lives by creating and facilitating programs that encourage Hoosiers to think, read and talk. Indiana Humanities is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and Lilly Endowment, Inc. Learn more at www.indianahumanities.org.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.

About Indiana Center for the Book
The Indiana Center for the Book is a program of the Indiana State Library and an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. It promotes interest in reading, writing, literacy, libraries, and Indiana’s literary heritage by sponsoring events and serving as an information resource at the state and local level. Learn more at www.in.gov/library/icb.htm.

About Indiana State Library
The Indiana State Library serves Indiana residents with a variety of needs including; genealogy, Indiana history, preservation, rare books and manuscripts, reference and government services, Talking Books and Braille library, as well as the State Data Center. The State Library also leads and supports the greater Indiana library community and is a magnificent limestone building to visit. Learn more at: www.in.gov/library/index.htm.