SEARSMONT — On Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m., at the Searsmont Community Center, Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, Independent Lens, the Searsmont Town Library, Liberty Library, and Appleton Library, will host an event featuring a preview version of Free for All: The Public Library and public discussion. The documentary film tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.

"The public library is one of America’s most valued yet endangered institutions," said Searsmont Town Library, in a news release.

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, Denise Pendleton (Searsmont Library Board of Trustees) will host an engaging and interactive discussion about public libraries. Audience members are encouraged to share their stories about library experiences that shaped them. Coffee, tea, and goodies will be served. 

A snow date of Saturday March 22, at 2 p.m., is scheduled, if needed.

Free for All: The Public Library will debut on April 29, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET on PBS and the PBS app (check local listings). 

For more information, visit Independent Lens. 

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.