The library is sponsoring a series of discussions with Denis Sweet, a former teacher at Bates College, investigating our current moment, making use of the contemporary and classic writings in literature, social criticism, biology and philosophy. Meetings will be Tuesday mornings at 10am in the library's Howard Room. 

A time for profound realignment of fundamental principles and for parting from collective illusions. How should we live our life as individuals - and as a species- in a conscientious way that responds to the time that we live in now? The course is structured in modules, and the first module is Earth. The works that will be covered in the module are listed below. 

• Nikolaj Schultz, Land Sickness (2023) 
• How does one navigate the disorienting world of the Anthropocene? An inquiry into the issues raised by the climate crisis.
• Stephen Emmott Ten Billion (2013)
• Stark early warning of the looming multiple ecological crises ahead. Used here as kind of a visualization aid to complement the narrative of Land Sickness. 
• Emanuele Coccia, Metamorphoses (2021)
• Reflections that throw overboard all notions that the human species is static and independent, but rather part of a much larger and interconnected form of life. 

This module will meet once a week for three months. To facilitate discussion, the number of participants is limited to fifteen. Registration can be done through the library's online calendar. For more information, please email Assistant Director Kayleigh Thomas at kayleigh.thomas@bhpl.net or call 374-5515.