MEDIA =
CONTACT:
Terri Crawford, Lib=
rary
Deputy Director
(239) 533-4832 or tcrawford@leegov.com
Frankenstein: Pe=
netrating
the Secrets of Nature
Fort Myers, Florida=
(July 7,
2010) – Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature, a
fantastic exhibition developed by the National Library of Medicine and the
American Library Association, will make a stop at the Northwest Regional
Library for a six-week period from July 13 through August 22. The
Northwest Regional Library, part of the Lee County Library System, is loca=
ted
at
Frankenstein: Pe=
netrating
the Secrets of Nature, funded
locally by LCEC and the Lee County Medical Society, examines the folklore
surrounding scientific discoveries and celebrates the promise of medical
research.
For nearly 200 year=
s, the
story of Frankenstein – the book, the monster, the scientist –=
has
gripped our imaginations and haunted our nightmares. Though Mary She=
lley
(1797-1851) was only 20 years old when Frankenstein; or The
Modern Prometheus was first published in 1818, she posed profound ques=
tions
in her novel about individual and societal responsibility for other human
beings.
This exhibition exp=
lores the
woman and the world that gave birth to Frankenstein. It exami=
nes
how playwrights and filmmakers transformed the Frankenstein story into one=
of
the Western world’s most enduring myths. Finally, it considers=
how
Mary Shelley’s unfortunate monster frequently provides a framework f=
or
discussions of contemporary biomedical advances such as cloning, which
challenge our traditional understanding of what it means to be human.
Representatives of =
the Lee
County Library System expressed pride in being selected to host this unique
exhibition and gratitude for the local sponsors who literally “paid =
the
freight” to bring the exhibit to the Northwest Regional Library.
“Although the
exhibition itself has grant funding form the National Endowment for the
Humanities and the National Library of Medicine, the Lee County Library Sy=
stem
had to supply approximately $1,500 for shipping,” said Library Direc=
tor
Sheldon Kaye. “LCEC and the Lee County Medical Society were quick to
respond to our requests and we are thankful for their support.”
The exhibit is free=
and open
to the public during regular library hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday; 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday =
and
Saturday.
For more informatio=
n about
the exhibit and related programming, please call Northwest Regional Librar=
y at
239.533.4700. A sign language interpreter is available with 5 business days
notice to library staff. Assistive listening system available; request at =
desk.
Information about L=
ee County
Library System is available for your convenience 24 hours-a-day at h=
ttp://library.leegov.com
where you can find out about other library services and locations and view=
an
online events calendar with more programs for all ages.
-end-