Role of Newspapers in Shaping Opinion Topic of State Library Program

Augusta - Since the founding of our democracy, newspapers have served a critical role in informing the public on current events. On Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 6:30 PM, the Maine State Library will host guest speaker, Candace Kanes, a former newspaper reporter and editor for a presentation focusing on the impact of newspapers in shaping how we perceive the world. The program is free and open to the public.

The lecture is part of the World in Your Library series, a foreign policy speaking program that is a collaborative effort between the Maine Humanities Council, the Maine State Library, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Pulitzer Prizes.

Kanes worked for newspapers in Ohio and Maine, taught history at several colleges in Maine, and served as curator of the Maine Memory Network at the Maine Historical Society. She has led numerous Let's Talk About It book discussions, and curated a variety of museum exhibits. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a master's in American and Women's Studies, and a doctorate in American History.

It's easier than ever to stay on top of the news; worldwide events are at our fingertips, in real time. But if you want to get a grip on the bigger picture, it can be harder than ever to find reliable coverage that explores both local and international issues in depth. Communities are increasingly turning to their libraries to gain this kind of information, perspective, and insight. The World in Your Library is one program designed to help public libraries meet this growing demand.

The program will also include information about the Maine Newspaper Project, a multi-year initiative that involves the digitization of Maine's historical newspapers. Over 100,000 pages of historical newspapers have been digitized to date and are being uploaded to a digital repository ( https://digitalmaine.com/newspapers ) where the content can be searched and downloaded online.

The Maine Humanities Council, a statewide non-profit organization, uses the humanities - literature, history, philosophy, and culture - as a tool for positive change in Maine communities. Our programs and grants encourage critical thinking and conversations across social, economic, and cultural boundaries.

The Maine State Library helps people, makes Maine libraries stronger and transforms information into knowledge.

For more information, call the Maine State Library at 207-287-5600